An evaluation of routine immunization coverage in some districts of West Bengal and Assam

A coverage evaluation survey was carried out in the five districts of West Bengal and Goalpara district of Assam during the period from November 2002 to April 2003 through 40 clusters sampling technique. Results revealed that highest coverage with routine immunization was in Paschim Medinipur (82.5%) followed by Kolkata (71.6%), Malda (65.3%), 24 Parganas South (61.9%) districts of West Bengal. Murshidabad district of West Bengal had only 41.3% coverage while poorest coverage was observed in Goalpara district (27.2%) of Assam. "Not aware of the need for routine immunization" was the main reason for not being vaccinated with all the UIP vaccines. Vaccination was given mainly through government hospitals in Kolkata while it was administered mainly through subcentres in the other rural districts.