The Vaccine Action Network (VAN) project, subcontracted to CHAM by AMREF Health Africa with support from the Rockefeller Foundation, aimed to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Phalombe and Chiradzulu districts. Targeting the vaccination of 8,000 individuals, the project ran from December 2022 to December 2023. Through collaboration with District Health Management Teams (DHMT), healthcare workers, Area Development Committees, Village Health Committees, and community influencers, CHAM conducted awareness-raising, service delivery, capacity building, and data management activities to enhance vaccine uptake. The project successfully fully immunized 14,207 individuals and administered a total of 33,115 vaccine doses, reaching a wide audience through social media, community engagement, and door-to-door sensitization. Health worker training, community leader engagement, and data management were prioritized, with significant numbers trained to support vaccine demand and uptake. Despite facing challenges such as Cyclone Freddy, the WHO resolution that COVID-19 was no longer a public health concern, and inconsistencies in vaccination data, 89% of planned activities were completed. Actions to address these challenges included training data entry clerks and Community Health Workers (CHWs) in data management, service integration, and building relationships with local leaders.
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