Authors : Adidja Amani, André Bita, Isabelle Mekone Nkwele, Iyale Astadjam Dairou, Armanda Nangmo, Martin Nyangono Ndongo, Aimé Mbonda, Hassanatou Iyawa Ousmanou and Chancelline Bilounga Ndongo
Abstract: Refugees represent the perfect breeding grounds for infectious diseases as they might transport germs as easily as their belongings. Also, Cameroon is part of the meningitis belt which makes it prone to the emergence of a meningitis epidemic. This study describes challenges and lessons learnt from a preventive mass vaccination campaign against meningococcal meningitis in refugee camps of Cameroon during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a cross-sectional study conducted from July to September 2020. Two rounds of a preventive mass vaccination campaign against meningococcal A, C, Y, W was planned and conducted from 20th-31st July in the Far-North within the first round from the 18th-31st August 2020 in the East region and the Adamawa within the second round. The target was 191652 people aged 2 years and above including pregnant women. Following adequate advocacy and social mobilization, people targeted received an intramuscular injection of 0.5 mL of MenactraTM. Data and immunization information were filled on vaccination cards. In Cameroon having strategies to cover insecure areas, organizing vaccination posts following social distancing standards and ensuring better planning of inputs before the vaccination beginning may be key to improving higher vaccination coverage in refugee camps in the context of COVID-19 pandemic response.
Adidja Amani, André Bita, Isabelle Mekone Nkwele, Iyale Astadjam Dairou, Armanda Nangmo, Martin Nyangono Ndongo, Aimé Mbonda, Hassanatou Iyawa Ousmanou and Chancelline Bilounga Ndongo, 2021. Preventive Mass Vaccination Campaign Against Meningococcal Meningitis in Refugee Camps of Cameroun During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Vaccination Coverage, Challenges, Best Practices and Lessons Learned. International Journal of Tropical Medicine, 16: 41-46.