Year: 2026 | Month: April | Volume: 16 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 1-7
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20260401
Operational Readiness of Medical Interns in Immunization Services: A Cross-Sectional Study at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka
Apoorva Dore1, Narayana Holla2, Sebin Jolly3, Raja Sudharsana Manikandan M4
1Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, KVG Medical College and Hospital, Sullia, Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, India.
2Professor Emeritus, Department of Community Medicine, KVG Medical College and Hospital, Sullia, Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, India.
3Senior Resident, Department of Community Medicine, KVG Medical College and Hospital, Sullia, Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, India
4Post graduate student, Department of Community Medicine, KVG Medical College and Hospital, Sullia, Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, India.
Corresponding Author: Dr Raja Sudharsana Manikandan M
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Globally vaccination is one of the most cost-effective public health interventions, averting millions of deaths annually. Adequate operational knowledge in various thematic areas among providers is mandatory to achieve best immunisation outcomes. Posting of medical interns to vaccination centre is a golden opportunity to acquire operational knowledge and skill to roll out as confident and competent doctors to provide quality vaccination services to the beneficiaries.
Objectives:
1. To assess the operational readiness of medical interns in immunization services.
2. To evaluate knowledge of medical interns related to key operational aspects of immunization.
3. To identify factors associated with operational readiness among medical interns.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical interns posted in the vaccination clinic of a tertiary care teaching hospital in Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, between 2024 and 2026. A validated semi-structured questionnaire based on Universal Immunization Programme guidelines was administered to interns. Descriptive statistics were used for data summarization, and associations were evaluated using the chi-square test with odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.
Results: A total of 261 interns participated in the study. Overall operational readiness was low, with only 64 (24.5%) interns demonstrating adequate readiness, 104 (39.8%) moderate readiness, and 93 (35.6%) inadequate readiness. Domain-wise readiness was highest for National Immunization Schedule (75%), while readiness was lower for cold chain and VVM (53.3%), open vial policy (40.6%), and Dose, route and site (37.5%). Interns who had independently administered vaccines were significantly more likely to be operationally ready (OR = 4.4; 95% CI: 2.56–7.55; p < 0.001). Interns who had received on the job expert immunization instructions showed a positive but non-significant association with readiness (OR = 1.62; 95% CI: 0.94–2.78).
Conclusion: Operational readiness of medical interns in immunization services was suboptimal. The study findings highlight the need for structured immunization training during internship to strengthen practical competencies in vaccination services.
Key words: Immunization training; Medical interns; Operational readiness; Universal Immunization Programme; Competency-based medical education.