REACH-OUT Advances Digital Innovation to Strengthen Immunisation Microplanning in Kenya

Despite significant progress in immunisation, many children still miss out on life-saving vaccines. Health systems struggle to identify underserved communities, understand local barriers, and efficiently plan outreach services. Closing these “last-mile” gaps demands smarter, evidence-informed tools that empower health workers to make timely, targeted decisions. The REACH-OUT project, led by Amref Health Africa and its partners, is developing an innovative Decision Support Tool (DST) to strengthen immunisation microplanning and ensure more equitable vaccine delivery for zero-dose and under-immunised children.

The Decision Support Tool brings together geospatial intelligence, population estimates, facility catchment data, and local barriers to vaccination, all within a single digital platform. With this tool, health managers can pinpoint priority communities, select tailored interventions, and estimate the resources needed for effective outreach. By turning complex data into actionable insights, the platform helps immunisation programs better prioritise investments and allocate resources where they are needed most.

A key strength of the tool is its user-centred design. The REACH-OUT consortium has actively involved stakeholders throughout development to ensure the platform meets real-world needs. This collaborative process ensures the innovation is practical, relevant, and ready to integrate seamlessly into routine immunisation systems.

Recently, the REACH-OUT team marked a major milestone by conducting a validation exercise in Busia County. This event brought together frontline health workers, facility managers, county health teams, and national representatives to review the DST prototype. Participants evaluated whether the platform’s information, workflow, and functionalities matched the realities of routine immunisation planning. Their feedback on design, usability, and content will help shape future versions of the tool.

During the session, participants explored critical features such as facility catchment data, settlement prioritisation, intervention choices, outreach costing, and workflow integration. Their insights will guide the tool’s refinement, ensuring the final product is intuitive, relevant, and able to support evidence-based decisions at every level from facility to national.

As the REACH-OUT project advances, the Decision Support Tool stands out as a major leap in modernising immunisation microplanning through data-driven innovation. By equipping health teams with actionable information to identify underserved populations and plan targeted outreach, the tool will help strengthen routine immunisation systems, boost efficiency, and move us closer to the goal of leaving no child behind.

Author: Joan Mmboga and Noah Wekesa Wanjala (Digital Communications and Engagement Officer, Amref Health Africa)