Global Immunization Newsletter - November 2022
Message by the Director of the Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals at WHO
Welcome to our first issue of the Global Immunization News (GIN) in this new format. Since its initial launch, in 2005, the GIN has been a platform for information-sharing for our community, by our community.
The GIN includes a diverse range of content including news and events from different countries, regions and partners, policy developments the latest immunization insights and publications.
News/features
AFRO Regional Framework to Defeat Meningitis in Africa by 2030 launched
Over 400 million Africans are still at risk of seasonal meningitis outbreaks. WHO and partners have launched the ‘Regional Framework to Defeat Meningitis in Africa by 2030’ and are urging countries to implement it rapidly ahead of the next seasonal outbreak.
Benin vaccinated 106,75% of the 1,679,660 children during Meningitis campaign
In January 2022, Benin introduced the MenAfriVac vaccine into its regular vaccination schedule. As the last preventive meningitis campaign against the most virulent serogroup (A) was conducted in 2012, the country organized a preventive campaign to extend the protection to all remaining cohorts of unvaccinated children.
UNICEF calls for precision targeting to fight tetanus – a silent killer of mothers and newborns
UNICEF is calling for joint and targeted efforts to provide vaccination to over 32 million women in the 12 most-at-risk countries and protect them and their newborns from potentially fatal maternal and neonatal tetanus.
Focus on immunization & surveillance in mid-term evaluation of polio transition
WHO’s management response to the Mid-term evaluation of the implementation of the Strategic Action Plan on Polio Transition (2018-23) lays out a roadmap for polio transition efforts. Objectives are aligned with the IA2030 to ensure strong surveillance and immunization systems.
Acceleration of COVID-19 vaccination in the EMR: cases from Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen
Currently, 55% of the total population (744m, UNPD 2021) received at least one dose of the COVID-19 jab. The fully vaccinated population is at 47% and the partially vaccinated at 8%. Here we share progress from 3 EMR countries in September/October 2022.
Gavi, Moderna update COVAX supply agreement
Gavi and Moderna agreed to cancel the remaining COVID-19 vaccine volumes under their previous 2022 agreement and establish a framework for lower-income countries to access bivalent COVID-19 from 2023 instead.
Addressing vaccine hesitancy in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala
The program Salud Sobre Ruedas (Health on Wheels) was launched in June 2022 to increase access to COVID-19 and the national immunization scheme through active listening and dialogue between health personnel and community leaders. Find out the lessons learned.
WHO selects PharmaJet Needle-free System for Million+ Polio vaccination campaign
Over 2.7 million children have been targeted in Pakistan for a large polio vaccination campaign led by WHO, using the Tropis® Needle-free Injection System (NFIS), an effective solution that can increase immunization campaign coverage by over 18%.
Chad’s experience in implementing a mass covid-19 vaccination campaign
Chad’s vaccination campaign led to significant increases in the percentage of fully vaccinated people among both health workers and older adults. In addition, 20 916 refugees and 13 586 nomads were vaccinated during the campaign. What were the key factors the behind the success of this campaign?
Integrating health brigades for hard-to-reach communities in Alta Verapaz
Through joint efforts between the Ministry of Health, PAHO, UNICEF and the World Food Programme, mobile brigades are bringing integrated COVID-19 vaccination, health and nutrition services closer for hard-to-reach communities in areas with low vaccination coverage.
Meetings/workshops
Upcoming meetings
• 7 November: MS Info. sessions on IA2030 and COVID-19 Vax Strategy
• 10 November: Webinar “Building a Better Immunity: A Pathway to Healthy Longevity”
• 16 November: MS Info. session on Polio
• 14-15 November: NITAG Partners Retreat – Accra, Ghana
• 16 to 17 November: Gavi Vaccine Manufacturer Roadshow - Merck/Pfizer Vaccine Portfolio – Virtual/Philadelphia & NY
• 16-18 November: East & South Africa Regional Working Group meeting – Nairobi, Kenya
• 17 November: EURO Programme Managers Meeting – Tbilisi, Georgia
• 17 November: COVAX CSO Dialogue – Virtual
• 17 November: Cervical Cancer Elimination Day of Action
• 21-24 November: Fourteenth Intercountry Meeting of National Managers of the Expanded Programme on Immunization - Cairo, Egypt
• 22 November: Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030) Partnership Council (IAPC) Meeting - Geneva
• 27 November - 1 December: AFRO Defeating Meningitis by 2030 country workshop - Brazzaville, Congo
• 29 November - 01 December: Vaccines Against Shigella and ETEC (VASE) Conference - Washington D.C.
• 29 November -1 December: Summary of RSV Surveillance based on GISRS - Amman, Jordan
• 30 November - 1 December: SEARO Regional Working Group (RWG) Routine Immunization Revitalization following COVID-19 Pandemic - Kathmandu, Nepal
Report on first meeting of the Regional NITAG Network Meeting of the Americas
Over 100 participants from 22 countries joined the first meeting of the Regional National Immunization Technical Advisory Group in Guatemala.
Report on AFRO Region NIS workshop for francophone countries in Benin
The COVID-19 pandemic and recent release of WUENIC data emphasised the need for strategic planning and prioritization to restore and expand immunization programmes.
New publications/resources
Updated WHO Hepatitis A vaccines position paper
The newly published Hepatitis A vaccines position paper replaces the 2012 version and reflects changes in epidemiology and the latest evidence on single-dose vaccine use in routine pediatric immunization programmes.
Overcoming barriers to vaccine acceptance: learnings from 734 health workers
“The stories gave me renewed appreciation of these health professionals facing even greater challenges in the face of a deadly pandemic” - Heidi Larson PhD, Professor at LSHTM.
WHO Immunization Data Portal: global, regional and country immunization data at your fingertips
Visit the WHO Immunization Data Portal today and find immunization data from all over the world.
New resource: Service Experience Toolkit
The Service Experience Toolkit introduces the immunization service experience (SE) concept, particularly to country-level EPI staff and implementing partners. The five toolkit products are meant to ignite discussion around how EPIs may address and improve the delivery and experience of immunization services.
Announcements
Call for submissions: special issue "Inequality in Immunization"
WHO, Gavi and CDC are putting together a special issue on Inequality in Immunization in the MDPI journal, Vaccines, which will explore the latest evidence on various types of immunization across the life course at global, regional, national and subnational levels. Submissions are now open.
Join Technet-21
For more news on immunization, join TechNet-21, a global network of professionals committed to strengthening immunization services. To become a member, go to www.TechNet-21.org and click "Join today".
Share your immunization news by Friday 18 November
We welcome your contributions and suggestions for the next issue of GIN. Your content may relate to immunization news, recent or upcoming meetings and events, new publications or resources, or any other relevant announcements. To contribute content, please click on this link to submit an article by Friday 18th of November.
If you have any questions or feedback, please contact: globalimmunnews@who.int
