The International Center for Equity in Health (ICEH) contributed its expertise to the second edition of the Analytical Workshop on Immunization Coverage and Inequalities, held from April 28 to May 2 in Dakar, Senegal, as part of the Countdown to 2030 initiative. Supported by GAVI - the Vaccine Alliance, World Health Organization, and UNICEF, the event brought together researchers from 26 countries to strengthen analytical capacities in assessing immunization coverage in Sub-Saharan Africa.

During the workshop, ICEH’s Fernando Wehrmeister and Francine Costa led training sessions focused on equipping participants with tools to evaluate inequalities in vaccine coverage using routine health facility data and national surveys. “We trained country teams to interpret data, identify disparities, and create actionable reports,” Costa said. Key topics included calculating dropout rates (children missing vaccine doses) and assessing inequalities across subnational regions, maternal education, and wealth levels.

The workshop featured a hands-on approach, with participants presenting poster reports that were evaluated and awarded for their quality of analysis. “The interactive discussions on interpreting results were a highlight,” Costa noted. A new dashboard for indicator analysis was also introduced, streamlining the process for national health ministries. The event concluded with country-specific reports.

ICEH’s involvement emphasized equity-focused methods, including subnational disparity mapping and socio-economic analyses. “Addressing inequalities is not optional, it is fundamental. “We must not only track national averages but rigorously document who is being left behind, and why. Only then can we achieve universal immunization coverage,” Fernando Wehrmesiter added.

The event was not only an opportunity for knowledge exchange but also for developing more refined strategies to improve immunization coverage across the continent. ICEH's ongoing collaboration with the Countdown to 2030 initiative continues to strengthen countries’ analytical capacity to achieve their immunization goals by 2030.