An Ecoepidemiological assessment of Low Coverage Children Immunization Rates in Naâma, southwest Algeria: A Multidisciplinary Approach

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) has noted that insufficient immunization coverage in Algeria, as seen by local statistics, poses a hazard to public health. Subjects and Method: This article takes a multidisciplinary approach to analyzing and resolving the issue of poor vaccine coverage rates among children in Naâma province, southwest Algeria. We investigate the linked elements leading to this problem after completing a survey of extensive samples of infants born in the province in 2020 and 2021, as well as their vaccination rates, using the lens of ecoepidemiology. Results: Through a comprehensive survey of samples of infants born in the area in 2020 and 2021, we find low vaccination rates of 78.53% for the measles vaccine in 2020 and 68.14% in 2021. The other immunizations do not cover more than 85% of the target group. The distribution of Naâma's population is heavily influenced by its topography and geographical features, which has a direct impact on children's vaccination rates due to the difficulty of accessing immunization centers. Rumours and religious beliefs in the local community have also had a significant role in the area's low kid immunization rates. Conclusion: Ecoepidemiology can help understand the low immunization rates in Naâma Province, Algeria. A multidisciplinary method incorporating social, environmental, and biological sciences can ensure high immunization rates while also protecting public health by limiting disease transmission from south to north.