Health Impact Assessment of Free Immunization Program in Jinju City, Korea

Abstract

ObjectivesThis study was conducted to assess the potential health impacts and improve the quality of the free immunization program in Jinju City by maximizing the predicted positive health gains and minimizing the negative health risks.MethodsA steering committee was established in September 2010 to carry out the health impact assessment (HIA) and began the screening and scoping stages. In the appraisal stage, analysis of secondary data, a literature review, case studies, geographic information systems analysis, a questionnaire, and expert consultations were used. The results of the data collection and analyses were discussed during a workshop, after which recommendations were finalized in a written report.ResultsIncreased access to immunization, comprehensive services provided by physicians, the strengthened role of the public health center in increasing immunization rates and services, and the ripple effect to other neighboring communities were identified as potential positive impacts. On the other hand, the program might be inaccessible to rural regions with no private clinics where there are more at-risk children, vaccine management and quality control at the clinics may be poor, and vaccines may be misused. Recommendations to maximize health gains and minimize risks were separately developed for the public health center and private clinics.ConclusionsThe HIA provided an opportunity for stakeholders to comprehensively overview the potential positive and negative impacts of the program before it was implemented. An HIA is a powerful tool that should be used when developing and implementing diverse health-related policies and programs in the community.

Cross-Sectional Study of Varicella Zoster Virus Immunity in Healthy Korean Children Assessed by Glycoprotein Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay and Fluorescent Antibody to Membrane Antigen Test

“…Since the varicella vaccine has been included in the NIP since 2005, only 3.2% of the enrolled children were unvaccinated. The vaccine coverage rate (96.8%) was comparable to the previous studies after 2008 in Korea [ 5 , 7 ]. This rate was about 20% higher than 2001 survey data, which was performed before varicella vaccine was included in NIP [ 4 ].…”

“…In Korea, several domestic and imported vaccines have been used, and some vaccines have been discontinued. The varicella vaccine coverage rates for children aged 6 years or less in Korea were 88.3%, 96.8%, and 99.0% in 2007, 2008, and 2009, respectively, and they were over 97% between 2016 and 2019 [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. Nevertheless, varicella outbreaks occasionally occur in day-care centers or primary schools, even among vaccinated children with mild clinical presentation [ 9 ].…”

Health Impact Assessments of Health Sector Proposals: An Audit and Narrative Synthesis

“…The type of HIA conducted was dependent on the resources available e.g., rapid and desktop [ 37 , 39 , 53 ] to ensure the amount of data collected in every stage would be a point of reference in the specific levels of communication. Thirteen of the HIAs identified in this study adopted a rapid approach [ 36 , 37 , 40 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 ], three adopted an intermediate approach [ 35 , 41 , 43 ] and two used the comprehensive HIA approach [ 38 , 42 ]. Four of the HIAs applied a desktop and rapid approach simultaneously [ 37 , 39 , 52 , 53 ].…”

“…All the HIAs applied qualitative methods of data collection. Literature review was the most used method of data collection and was used in 13 of the HIAs [ 35 , 36 , 37 , 39 , 41 , 43 , 44 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 50 , 51 , 53 ] Interviews were conducted in eight of the included HIAs. Community-based focus group discussions were used in seven HIAs, while community and population profiles were used in five of the HIAs.…”

Epidemiological Impact of the Korean National Immunization Program on Varicella Incidence

“…Moreover, the vaccination rate rose gradually until 2009. There has not been a nationwide survey of varicella vaccination rates before 2009; however, in a single region, the vaccination rates for varicella in 2007, 2008, and 2009 were 78.3%, 89.3%, and 99.0%, respectively 10. In the United States, it took 4 years to reduce the incidence of varicella by half after varicella vaccination was recommended 2.…”