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Overview

Background

Routine immunisation (RI) against vaccine preventable diseases (e.g. measles, polio, TB, tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough) is one of the most cost effective interventions for reducing childhood illness and mortality. The GAVI Alliance-funded Health System Strengthening (HSS) programme is one of the efforts of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) to improve the quality and level of immunization coverage in India.

Studies have shown that low levels of awareness, communication and information sharing is one of the constrains behind low coverage in immunization. In order to increase demand for routine immunization (RI), the HSS programme will focus on activities to broadcast immunization messages, and advocacy with media for creating an enabling environment.

There is a felt need for a regular monitoring and analysis of media reporting at the state and district level, especially in states where immunization is below the country average, which will enable to gauge gaps in the capacities of the media to understand and report on RI and guide the future advocacy agenda. Therefore, understanding the current media discourse around facets of importance of vaccination and accuracy of the coverage takes utmost importance.

A.      Objective of the Assignment