Webinar: Big Catch-up Module Launch - Wednesday, 12 February, 15-16:00 CET

Simona · 30 January 2025 14:22

We’re excited to invite you to our upcoming DHIS2 Gavi Quarterly Webinar, where we will spotlight the Big Catch-up (BCU) — a global initiative supported by Gavi, WHO, UNICEF, and partners to restore immunization coverage to pre-pandemic levels and strengthen health systems worldwide.

What to Expect?

Introduction to the Big Catch-up initiative’s goal, objectives, and progress,
The official launch of the DHIS2 BCU module, developed in collaboration with Gavi, UNICEF, WHO, and HISP to support reporting and monitoring of catch-up doses and data-driven decision-making,
Live demo and discussion on how the DHIS2 BCU module enhances the DHIS2 Immunization Toolkit to help countries improve coverage and catch up on missed vaccinations.

This module is designed to support all countries implementing catch-up strategies — whether as part of the BCU or broader immunization recovery efforts. This is an opportunity to engage with experts, ask questions, and explore how digital solutions can help countries close immunization gaps. Don’t miss out: register now, share this invitation with relevant colleagues, and join us in advancing immunization efforts globally!

Register here

Webinaire : Lancement du module Big Catch-up - Mercredi 12 février, de 15h00 à 16h00 CET

Nous sommes ravis de vous inviter à notre prochain webinaire trimestriel DHIS2 Gavi, où nous mettrons en lumière le Big Catch-up (BCU) — une initiative mondiale soutenue par Gavi, l’OMS, l’UNICEF, et leurs partenaires pour rétablir la couverture vaccinale aux niveaux d’avant la pandémie et renforcer les systèmes de santé à travers le monde.

Contenu de la session

Introduction aux objectifs, buts et avancées de l’initiative Big Catch-up,
Le lancement officiel du module BCU de DHIS2, développé en collaboration avec Gavi, l’UNICEF, l’OMS, et HISP pour soutenir le suivi et le rapportage des doses de rattrapage et la prise de décisions basées sur les données,
Démonstration en direct et discussion sur la manière dont le module BCU de DHIS2 améliore la boîte à outils d’immunisation de DHIS2 pour aider les pays à améliorer la couverture et à rattraper les vaccinations manquées.

Ce module est conçu pour soutenir tous les pays mettant en œuvre des stratégies de rattrapage — que ce soit dans le cadre de la BCU ou de plus larges efforts de reprise de la vaccination. C’est une occasion d’échanger avec des experts, de poser des questions et d’explorer comment les solutions numériques peuvent aider les pays à combler les lacunes en matière de vaccination. Ne manquez pas cette opportunité : inscrivez-vous dès maintenant, partagez cette invitation avec vos collègues concernés, et joignez-vous à nous pour faire progresser les efforts de vaccination à l’échelle mondiale !

Inscrivez-vous ici

Suliman · 30 January 2025 18:24

Thanks

olaarinola · 24 February 2025 14:53

Hi everyone,

Thank you for joining the webinar! I’m Olajumoke Arinola, a Consultant with UNICEF’s Digital Health and Information Systems team, working on real-time monitoring of the Big Catch-Up (BCU) initiative.

I consulted with the BCU monitoring and learning team to address some of the questions raised during the session. You can find the list of questions and answers here. I also listed them in the follow-up reply.

Best,
Olajumoke.

olaarinola · 24 February 2025 16:11

How are BCU doses recorded for children aged 12-23 months when they may have already been recorded as routine doses? A catch-up dose refers to the vaccination of a child who did not receive the dose at the recommended age. Children aged 12-23 months who receive catch-up doses should be recorded as such in the country’s health information system regardless of the service delivery mechanism (routine vs campaigns or others). If a child receives a dose at the recommended time per the country’s immunization schedule, this would not be considered a catch-up dose. For children aged 12-23 months, on-time doses could include MCV2, booster, or malaria vaccine doses.
Concerns about inclusion or exclusion of countries. Has the BCU module been deployed in South Sudan? South Sudan is one of the 35 Gavi-supported BCU countries. Other countries like Uganda are implementing catch-up monitoring inspired by the BCU initiative. Support is being deployed to South Sudan to ensure readiness and implementation of BCU activities. However, for the data collection and monitoring readiness indicators, South Sudan is one of the countries identified as still in planning or yet to commence customization of digital tools. Country-level stakeholders should assess the relevance of the DHIS2 BCU module based on their context and needs. This module is highly relevant if South Sudan uses DHIS2 for routine immunization. Technical teams that joined the webinar can proactively engage immunization program teams to understand the country’s priorities to assess how to support deploying DHIS2 or other RTM tools for South Sudan’s catch-up implementation.
How can geospatial tools be used for BCU RTM? Geospatial tools support the planning, implementation, and monitoring of BCU. The choice of tools depends on existing geospatial assets, digital maturity, and fitness to address identified program challenges. Geo-enabled microplanning can identify missed communities, and help optimize the location of service delivery while community-level mapping of zero-dose locations informs planning. During implementation, geospatial tools can support assessing coverage gaps, and in monitoring, they aid in geo-enabled reporting of survey results.
How do you ensure data quality and how do we track zero-dose more accurately?
To ensure data quality and improve tracking of zero-dose children using the DHIS2 BCU module or other RTM tools, the tool’s customization should incorporate validation checks during data entry. This includes setting up built-in validation rules to detect inconsistencies, outliers, and errors. Additionally, training health workers is essential to ensure they accurately screen and report zero-dose children.
What lessons have been gathered from countries that have been implementing? Early lessons highlight the need for early planning in RTM deployment, adequate training, selecting tools based on country maturity, and systems integration. UNICEF’s BCU Cameroon Case Study details their RTM experience: this document offers valuable initial insights as we gather more country lessons.
Should BCU data monitoring be integrated into routine immunization (RI) systems or function as a separate system? It is preferable not to set up a parallel system for the BCU: there are several reasons for this, including avoiding further burdening health workers. We recommend instead, that countries modify existing age-segregated recording and reporting tools and data systems so that catch-up doses can be monitored and integrated into their immunization systems alongside on-time doses. This should be complemented with enhanced training of health workers to use modified tools and accurately report catch-up doses. To integrate, countries should first assess the existing system design, hierarchies, data workflows, sharing settings, and disaggregations.
Is it better to use individualized data monitoring systems (e.g. electronic immunization registries) for monitoring the BCU? The choice of aggregate or individualized data monitoring systems will depend on the existing systems, use cases identified, data monitoring requirements, and the digital maturity levels of the country. EIRs hold significant potential for defaulter tracking, particularly for facility births, and sending targeted notifications to caregivers. In the context of the BCU, several countries decided to use aggregate systems which informed the decision to develop the DHIS2 BCU aggregate module. The DHIS2 BCU Guidance offers some inspiration on how countries can use EIRs for the BCU.
Is there guidance for “phasing out” BCU monitoring assuming the country has already caught up all identified zero-dose and catch-up targets? Should countries go back to solely routine monitoring.? Catch-up is a key strategy to reduce zero-dose and under-immunized continuously in part by reducing missed opportunities for vaccination. In alignment with the BCU global guidance, countries are advised to continue to sustain efforts and monitor catch-up targets even after BCU-specific activities to sustain catch-up gains while continuing to assess gaps and immunization data needs.