Policy and practice in the delivery of catch-up and life-course vaccination in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) for adolescents and adults - systematic review and policy analysis

Sep 30, 2026

Catch-up vaccination is critical in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to improve immunisation coverage across the lifespan for migrants and other populations that may have missed routine childhood vaccines. Despite WHO efforts to recover coverage after COVID-19, evidence on effective catch-up strategies for LMICs—especially for older groups—remains limited. This study systematically reviews 2000–2024 evidence and evaluates interventions, policies, and best practices for adolescents and adults across 124 LMICs.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

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Aims

Methods

Results

Included studies and outcomes

Conclusions

2nd World Congress on Migration, Ethnicity, Race & Health Abstract Book vi101 Abstract citation ID: ckaf180.278 49 Policy and practice in the delivery of catch-up and life-course vaccination in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) for adolescents and adults: a systematic review and policy analysis Darlington David Faijue1, Oumnia Bouaddi2, Kathryn Mackey1,3, Beatriz Morais1, Holly Seale4, Agnes Ssali5, Kirsty Le Doare1, Sally Hargreaves1 1The Migrant Health Research Group and the GloVax Mi-Health Initiative, Institute for Infection and Immunity,Immunity, City St. George’s University of London, London, United Kingdom 2Mohammed VI University of Sciences and Health, University of Barcelona, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Carrer del Rosello, Spain 3Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom 4School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia 5Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda PTH 6: Health Policy and Health Services 1, B307 (FCSH), September 4, 2025, 16:30-17:30 Aims: Catch-up vaccination is vital in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to improve immunisation coverage across the lifespan for migrants, and marginalized populations who may have missed routine vaccines as children. The WHO’s big catch-up initiative aims to recover immunisation rates post-COVID-19, prioritising zero-dose children, however, evidence on catch-up strategies in LMICs, particularly for older groups, remains limited. This study evaluates interventions, policies, and best practices in catch-up vaccination in LMICs. Methods: A systematic review of studies from 2000–2024 examined catch-up vaccination policies, strategies, and interventions for adolescents (12–18 years) and adults (19–65 years) across 124 LMICs following PRISMA guidelines. Research was sourced from five academic databases (Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Global Health, Web of Science) and grey literature (including WHO, Ministry of Health websites) in any language. Primary outcomes assessed policy implementation, intervention strategies, and barriers, while secondary outcomes identified facilitators and best practices for reaching underserved populations. Results: From 7,820 studies screened, 310 were included, covering successful catch-up interventions for measles, polio, cholera, HPV, and COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria, Brazil, Morocco, India, Uganda, and Ethiopia. Strategies used to support catch-up included vi102 European Journal of Public Health, Vol. 35, Supplement 6, 2025 mobile clinics, school-based vaccination, SMS reminders, and culturally tailored outreach. Barriers include low awareness, financial constraints, and health system limitations. Of the 124 LMICs included, 84 had a national catch-up vaccination policy, but only 16 explicitly included migrants and refugees. Within these the focus was on children. In the MENA region there is a need for more inclusive policies at the national level to remove financial and legal obstacles to vaccination for migrant populations. Conclusions: Expanding catch-up vaccination programmes for measles, polio, and other preventable diseases is essential to closing immunity gaps, aligning with key global priorities to ensure equitable access for refugees and migrants.

FAQs

What is the main purpose of this systematic review and policy analysis?

To evaluate interventions, policies, and best practices for catch-up vaccination in LMICs for adolescents and adults, and to assess implementation, strategies, barriers, and facilitators.

Which populations and time range does the review cover?

It examines catch-up vaccination for adolescents (12–18 years) and adults (19–65 years) using studies from 2000–2024 across 124 LMICs.

What outcomes and barriers were assessed in the included evidence?

Primary outcomes focused on policy implementation, intervention strategies, and barriers, while secondary outcomes identified facilitators and best practices for reaching underserved populations; reported barriers included low awareness, financial constraints, and health system limitations.

Sep 30, 2026

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