The document outlines barriers to childhood immunization and social and behavioral change communication (SBCC) interventions. Key barriers include lack of access to immunization services for children in remote, conflict-affected, or marginalized areas; lack of awareness and trust in vaccine safety among parents; and gender norms that restrict women's mobility and decision-making power. Effective SBCC interventions to address these barriers include mass awareness campaigns, parent education, community mobilization, home visits, follow-up with mothers, and ensuring access to vaccination services. A multisectoral approach is needed to strengthen immunization programs and overcome challenges like gender barriers.

1. Barriers of Immunization
and SBCC Interventions
Mohammad Aslam Shaiekh

2. Prone areas of zero dose and missed out
children with immunizations
• Children in remote villages, miles from the nearest road.
• Children in urban slums where newly arrived families live in
anonymity.
• Children in conflict zone.
• Hard to reach area.
• Marginalized community.
Barriers of Child Immunization and SBCC Interventions 2

3. Barriers of Childhood Vaccinations
• Lack of knowledge and awareness.
• Parental trust in the safety of vaccinations
• Perceived health importance of childhood vaccinations.
• Easily accessibility and Positive attitude towards vaccinations within
the community.
• Limited family support and work overload to mothers
• Mobility restrictions of women mostly in Muslim community.
• Forgetting the next vaccination schedule
• Migration of parents.
• Rumors and misinformation about vaccination
Barriers of Child Immunization and SBCC Interventions 3

4. Social & Gender Norms Related to
Vaccinations
• Women have less education than men.
• Women are not allowed to travel alone.
• The decision making power have husband.
• Women are not allowed to carry the cell phone and they are unable get
digitalized health information.
• Domestic care obligations.
Barriers of Child Immunization and SBCC Interventions 4

5. Key SBCC Interventions to Address the
Barrier to Childhood Vaccinations
• Building mass awareness activities.
• Educating the parents and care giver on the importance of
vaccinations.
• Catch-up on the vaccination of children missed during pandemic.
• Community mobilization for providing information about
vaccinations.
• Support mother groups meeting, parents meeting
• Home visits and counselling sessions.
• Follow-up with mothers for their child immunization.
Barriers of Child Immunization and SBCC Interventions 5

6. Way Forwards
• Parenting Education regarding the importance of vaccinations.
• Adequate vaccine supplies and Equal distributions.
• Ensuring the physical and monetary access to vaccine services.
• Requirement of multisector approach for FIC.
• Adopt the strategy of “leave no one behind”.
• Meet the challenges in emergency situations like COVID 19.
• Strengthen the confidence in vaccination through community
engagement, tackling the gender barriers.
• Building resilient health system.
• Invest in immunization and health.
Barriers of Child Immunization and SBCC Interventions 6