Matiwos Ensermu (PhD)Negash Kebede2024-03-072024-03-072022-06https://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/2224Availability of vaccine in good condition is crucial for success of any immunization program. As we go down in the supply chain to health centers and health posts, managing vaccine logistics and maintaining the cold chain may be more difficult. The purpose of this study is to assess availability and identify factors related to availability of vaccine in public health facilities under Hawassa City Administration and Hawassa Zuria District. Institution based cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in March 2022 among 16 health centers and 40 health posts. Quantitative data was collected from EPI focal persons using structured questionnaire together with six interviews. SPSS version 24 is used to analyze the quantitative data. Forty-five (80.4%) had more than eighty percent of the vaccines for immunization at time of visit. Mean availability was 78%. Frequently out of stock vaccines were OPV (57.1%), PCV (28.6%). Stock card is used in 13 health centers, but only 7 (53.8%) of them had updated one at time of visit. However, 81.3% of the health centers include stock on hand, quantities used and loss/adjustment in their LMIS report Only 31(55%) of the facilities had functional refrigerator. Seventeen (30.4%) of the respondents fail to identify the importance of shake test. Determining resupply quantity by the facility itself was strongly associated with availability of vaccines (OR 9(1.6-50.6). Availability of vaccines for routine immunization is satisfactory. Utilization of LMIS tools is disappointing. Knowledge on shake test is inadequate. Training on utilization of LMIS tools and the importance of shake test is recommended. Key words: Vaccine, Availability, Public health facilitiesen-USThesis