A guide for conducting an Expanded Programme on Immunization(EPI) Review

Overview

An EPI Review, also referred to as National Immunization Programme Review, is the comprehensive assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of an immunization programme at national, subnational and service-delivery levels. The purpose of the Review is to provide evidence for the programme’s strategic directions and priority activities. With this in mind, an EPI Review should be conducted before the immunization programme’s strategic planning cycle, such as the cMYP. Review findings are presented formally to the Ministry of Health (MoH), other relevant ministries, and often the country’s interagency coordinating committee (ICC) for their responses and endorsement for incorporation into the next strategic plan.

There are many ways an EPI Review can be conducted. The purpose of these guidelines is to establish a benchmark against which deviations from the standard can be made explicit. For example, EPI Reviews include external technical experts to provide greater technical depth, promote impartiality and increase the visibility and credibility of the findings. If EPI Review teams are not led by external experts, this should be made clear in the Review reporting process. A second example follows from the fact that EPI Reviews are increasingly being integrated with other assessments; adapting the Review to meet other objectives is encouraged and would also be an element to highlight as a deviation from a standard Review.