Expanded programme on immunization (EPI). Immunization schedules in the WHO African region, 1995.

There are 48 countries/areas in this Region (Tables 1-3). No data are available from Reunion and Saint Helena. BCG is given at birth in 46 countries. Diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT) vaccine is used as a primary series of 3 doses in 46 countries. In 35 countries, DPT is given from 6 weeks of age; in 6 countries at 2 months of age (Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Congo, Gambia and Zambia); and in 5 countries at 3 months of age (Algeria, Mauritius, Seychelles, Swaziland and Zimbabwe). Eight countries give 4 doses of DPT (Benin, Burundi, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa and Zambia) while 2 countries give 5 doses of DPT (Algeria and Togo). Diphtheria-tetanus (DT) is given in 3 countries: in Botswana at 6 years, in Mauritius at 2 and 5 years and in South Africa at 5 years of age. No Td* is given in any of the countries in this Region. Oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) is used in a primary series of 3 doses simultaneously with DPT vaccine in all countries. Eighteen countries give OPV at birth. Measles vaccine is given at 9 months of age in 45 countries. Seychelles gives measles vaccine at 15 months of age. None of these countries give a combined measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. Rubella vaccine alone is also not given in any of the countries in the Region. Hepatitis B vaccine is used in 7 countries (Botswana, Gabon, Gambia, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe). It is given in 2 doses in 2 countries (Gambia and Nigeria) and at birth in 4 countries (Botswana, Gabon, Gambia and Nigeria). Thirty-one countries are at risk for yellow fever. However, yellow fever vaccine is given only in 10 countries (Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Niger, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal and Togo). Six countries give yellow fever vaccine at 9 months, Chad gives it at 6 months, Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe at 1 year of age and Togo at 10 months. Tetanus toxoid (TT) is used for pregnant women or non-pregnant women of childbearing age. The schedules include 2 to 5 doses. Forty-two countries use a 5-dose schedule. TT is given to schoolchildren in 5 countries (Botswana, Comoros, Guinea, Lesotho and Madagascar).