Reaching Forest Workers with Yellow Fever Vaccine Through Engagement of the Private Sector in Central African Republic
<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Yellow fever (YF) outbreaks continue to affect populations that are not reached by routine immunization services, such as workers at a high risk of occupational exposure to YF. In the Central African Republic (CAR), YF cases were detected in districts charac...
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Vaccines |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/12/12/1424 |
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| author | Gertrude Noufack Placide Bissengue Junior Koma Zobanga Junior Stève Cyrille Malingao Mory Keita Marie Constance Razaiarimanga Marie-Eve Raguenaud |
| author_facet | Gertrude Noufack Placide Bissengue Junior Koma Zobanga Junior Stève Cyrille Malingao Mory Keita Marie Constance Razaiarimanga Marie-Eve Raguenaud |
| author_sort | Gertrude Noufack |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background/Objectives</b>: Yellow fever (YF) outbreaks continue to affect populations that are not reached by routine immunization services, such as workers at a high risk of occupational exposure to YF. In the Central African Republic (CAR), YF cases were detected in districts characterized by the presence of workers in forest areas. We developed an innovative approach based on a local partnership with private companies of the extractive industry to administer YF vaccine to workers in remote areas during the response to an outbreak. <b>Methods</b>: The planning stage of the campaign included the mapping of forestry and mining companies through the involvement of national and/or local representatives of companies from both the formal and informal sectors. Information sessions and mobilization targeted the heads of operating companies. Advanced and mobile strategies were used to target workers on their work site. Companies provided logistical support including transportation and communication and set up temporary vaccination posts. <b>Results</b>: Using this local partnership, it was possible to vaccinate over 70,000 workers (5.8% of the entire vaccinated population) in hard-to-reach areas, protecting them from YF. This represented around 47% of the estimated number of workers and dependents. The partnership with the private sector also contributed to increasing knowledge on the risk of YF and means of protection among a high-risk community. <b>Conclusions</b>: Private companies represent potentially useful actors that can contribute to the protection of high-risk workers and to the prevention and control YF outbreaks. The experience in the CAR has demonstrated that it is possible to obtain support from private companies, including informal ones, for a vaccination campaign. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f3d1fb5d5cb94f09a47752bf93ba79d4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-393X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vaccines |
| spelling | doaj-art-f3d1fb5d5cb94f09a47752bf93ba79d42024-12-27T14:58:11ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2024-12-011212142410.3390/vaccines12121424Reaching Forest Workers with Yellow Fever Vaccine Through Engagement of the Private Sector in Central African RepublicGertrude Noufack0Placide Bissengue1Junior Koma Zobanga2Junior Stève Cyrille Malingao3Mory Keita4Marie Constance Razaiarimanga5Marie-Eve Raguenaud6World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, 106 Djoue, Brazzaville P.O. Box 06, CongoMinistère de la Santé et de la Population de la République Centrafricaine, Bangui, Central African RepublicWorld Health Organization Country Office, Avenue Gamal Abdel Nasser, Bangui BP 1416, Central African RepublicWorld Health Organization Country Office, Avenue Gamal Abdel Nasser, Bangui BP 1416, Central African RepublicWorld Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, 106 Djoue, Brazzaville P.O. Box 06, CongoWorld Health Organization Country Office, Avenue Gamal Abdel Nasser, Bangui BP 1416, Central African RepublicWorld Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Yellow fever (YF) outbreaks continue to affect populations that are not reached by routine immunization services, such as workers at a high risk of occupational exposure to YF. In the Central African Republic (CAR), YF cases were detected in districts characterized by the presence of workers in forest areas. We developed an innovative approach based on a local partnership with private companies of the extractive industry to administer YF vaccine to workers in remote areas during the response to an outbreak. <b>Methods</b>: The planning stage of the campaign included the mapping of forestry and mining companies through the involvement of national and/or local representatives of companies from both the formal and informal sectors. Information sessions and mobilization targeted the heads of operating companies. Advanced and mobile strategies were used to target workers on their work site. Companies provided logistical support including transportation and communication and set up temporary vaccination posts. <b>Results</b>: Using this local partnership, it was possible to vaccinate over 70,000 workers (5.8% of the entire vaccinated population) in hard-to-reach areas, protecting them from YF. This represented around 47% of the estimated number of workers and dependents. The partnership with the private sector also contributed to increasing knowledge on the risk of YF and means of protection among a high-risk community. <b>Conclusions</b>: Private companies represent potentially useful actors that can contribute to the protection of high-risk workers and to the prevention and control YF outbreaks. The experience in the CAR has demonstrated that it is possible to obtain support from private companies, including informal ones, for a vaccination campaign.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/12/12/1424yellow feverhigh-risk workersepidemicpublic–private partnershipvaccination campaign |
| spellingShingle | Gertrude Noufack Placide Bissengue Junior Koma Zobanga Junior Stève Cyrille Malingao Mory Keita Marie Constance Razaiarimanga Marie-Eve Raguenaud Reaching Forest Workers with Yellow Fever Vaccine Through Engagement of the Private Sector in Central African Republic Vaccines yellow fever high-risk workers epidemic public–private partnership vaccination campaign |
| title | Reaching Forest Workers with Yellow Fever Vaccine Through Engagement of the Private Sector in Central African Republic |
| title_full | Reaching Forest Workers with Yellow Fever Vaccine Through Engagement of the Private Sector in Central African Republic |
| title_fullStr | Reaching Forest Workers with Yellow Fever Vaccine Through Engagement of the Private Sector in Central African Republic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reaching Forest Workers with Yellow Fever Vaccine Through Engagement of the Private Sector in Central African Republic |
| title_short | Reaching Forest Workers with Yellow Fever Vaccine Through Engagement of the Private Sector in Central African Republic |
| title_sort | reaching forest workers with yellow fever vaccine through engagement of the private sector in central african republic |
| topic | yellow fever high-risk workers epidemic public–private partnership vaccination campaign |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/12/12/1424 |
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