Supplementation of micro-nutrients Vitamin A supplementation

Health 79 after the third dose of DPT, is higher than DPT, raises concern. As explained in the 2006 Afghanistan Health Survey Ministry of Public Health 2008, there are several possible reasons for this: 1 recent outreach campaigns provide measles but not DPT vaccination to populations without regular access to facilities and DPT3 immunizations; 2 some children receive measles vaccination from the health system, but do not have a chance to make sufficient numbers of visits thereafter to receive all catch-up DPT vaccines; and 3 error in mother’s recall of vaccinations. Any combination of the aforementioned reasons is possible. Immunization against tuberculosis The schedule recommended by the WHO on immunization against tuberculosis TB – to give BCG as the first vaccine given at birth – is adopted in Afghanistan. The NRVA 20078 found that almost three-quarters 74 percent of children aged 12-23 months had received a BCG vaccination. This indicates that these children had at least initial contact with the health care system. Full immunization Afghanistan has low rates of full childhood immunization. According to NRVA 20078, full immunization, consisting of BCG, OPV3, DPT3, and measles vaccinations, among children aged 12-23 months, is estimated at only 37 percent. Furthermore, 15 percent of children have never been immunized. Full immunization rates among urban children were nearly double those among rural children 63 versus 33 percent, and rural children in turn had more than twice the immunization rate of Kuchi children 13 percent. The low rates of all vaccinations among Kuchi children, which yield the extremely low rate of full vaccination among this migrant population, are cause for concern. The national full vaccination rate according to the 20078 NRVA was nearly triple that found in the 2005 NRVA 33 percent versus 12 percent. Education was significantly related to full immunization status, with full immunization rates much higher among educated women 83 percent than non-educated women 35 percent. Figure 8.2 Percentage of children aged 12-23 months who received full immunization, by province