Community-based health programs and child vaccinations: Evidence from Madagascar

•Vaccines are cost-effective ways to reduce child mortality in low-income countries with high preventable-disease rates.•Remoteness in terms of distance to health facilities constitutes an important barrier to vaccination take-up.•In Madagascar, a community -based health worker program significantly increased child vaccinations in remote areas.•Mothers’ religious affiliation might constitute a barrier to the vaccination uptake of the most remote and vulnerable children.