Global Immunization News (GIN)

Global Immunization News (GIN)
News
In this issue
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News
UNICEF supports immunization and
nutrition catch up effort in Guinea
Immunization App Enters Innovation
Competition in Chile
HIB vaccine is now in the Nat. Immunization Progr. of all EMR countries
BMGF supports the LOGIVAC Project
for professionalizing Health Logistics in
Sub-Saharan Africa
National MR campaign conducted in
Yemen
Countries in the EMRO Region prepare
for the intro of IPV in the routine immunization schedule
Honduras expands the use of the web
based Vaccine wVSSM to other nonvaccine products
PAHOs Dr Cuauhtmoc Ruiz-Matus
Awarded for Achievements in Health
Global updates on Objective 2 of the
Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 2013-2018
November 2014
The SAGE Decade of Vaccines (DoV) Global Vaccine Action Plan

(GVAP) Assessment Report 2014
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
6
Consultant positions
Upcoming meeting
Meetings / workshops
Using information and communication
technology to improve imm. progr.
EURO RVC for the Elimination of MR
National conference on rotavirus vaccine introduction in Tajikistan
International Evaluation of Perus National Immunization Strategy
PAHO/WHO Regional Polio Meeting
9
10
Resources
1112
Calendar
1314
Links
15
10
11
The SAGE Decade of Vaccines

(DoV) Global Vaccine Action Plan
(GVAP) Assessment Report 2014
is now available online. This report can be accessed in English,
French, Russian and Spanish languages from the GVAP web page
under SAGE assessment reports.
The GVAP was endorsed by the
World Health Assembly in May
2012 to achieve the Decade of
Vaccines vision of universal access to immunization.
As requested by Member States,
the WHO Strategic Group of
Experts (SAGE) presents, in this
report, an objective assessment of
progress on implementation of
the GVAP. At the October 2014
meeting, SAGE noted that there
have been positive achievements
in introducing new vaccines, and in Graphic from the 2014 Assessment Report of the GVAP.
numerous countries in areas such
as establishing and strengthening of National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups.
However, five of the six goals set by GVAP with deadlines at the end of 2014 or 2015 still
require substantial progress to help bring the goals on track to meet their targets.
The assessment report has made 18 recommendations to address five priority problems:
1. Weak GVAP implementation,
2. Poor data quality and use
3. Vaccine affordability and supply
4. Failures of basic integration
5. Situations disrupting immunization.
This should allow all stakeholders to prioritize specific areas of focus in coming years.
For further information on the Decade of Vaccines and the Global Vaccine Action Plan
please see the GVAP webpage or email the DoV Secretariat.
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November 2014
UNICEF supports immunization and nutrition catch up effort in Guinea

Adama Sawadogo UNICEF/HQ, Tharcienne Ndihokubwayo UNICEF Guinea, Camille Soumah EPI Guinea
This year in Guinea, more than 400,000 children are due for their routine vaccinations, however, due to Ebola, we have seen an almost 50 per cent reduction in the numbers being vaccinated. UNICEF and partners, including the national Expanded Programme on Immunization
(EPI), the World Health Organization, the Helen Keller Institute, and the Governments Ebola
Coordination Committee will launch a vaccination catch-up for children and women who
missed their routine vaccinations this year. The catch up effort will also be an opportunity to
supplement children with vitamin A and deworming medication.
Dr Mohamed Ag Ayoya, the UNICEF Representative said, In a normal year without Ebola,
over 60 per cent of children are fully vaccinated. This catch up is essential to prevent other
outbreaks that will further complicate the Ebola response and take the lives of children.
Little girl being

vaccinated
in
Guinea
Over a six-day period, the number of routine vaccination sites will expand throughout the country to ensure that
communities have the access they need through health centers, provisory identified sites within communities and
outreach to communities. The vaccines available will include BCG vaccine, Pentavalent vaccine, oral polio vaccine,
measles vaccine, yellow fever vaccine, and Tetanus vaccine.
With the ongoing Ebola outbreak, UNICEF has provided technical support to the national EPI programme to develop a plan for this catch up, and technical and financial support to all eight health regions of Guinea in order to
perform the micro planning at district level.
The catch up vaccination and supplementation activities will commence on 27 November 2014 and will initially
cover districts that have not had Ebola cases, or have been declared Ebola free for 42 days. When the outbreak is
no longer active, catch ups will be held in other districts.
As a lead partner for immunization and nutrition in Guinea, UNICEF is providing vaccines, vitamin A, and Mebendazole and is funding almost two-thirds of the operational budget, with the remainder covered by other partners.
The Guinean National Ebola Coordination Committee is providing protective equipment including gloves, chlorine, and soap.
Immunization App Enters Innovation Competition in Chile

Pamela Burgos and Fernando Muoz, National Immunization Program, Ministry of Health, Chile
In October 2014, an immunization app developed by Chiles National Immunization Programme
in collaboration with a local university, was selected to represent the Ministry of Health (MOH)
in a national innovation competition.
The InfoVacunas
app maps out
vaccination
centers
The app InfoVacunas is free and provides users with information about
vaccines and the diseases they prevent; the location of vaccination centres
using a map tool; and immunization news and information about ongoing
campaigns, including frequent Q&As about hot topics. It is a tool to help
parents (and adults themselves) know what vaccines are due and when,
based on the sex and the date of birth of the user. It can send alerts to
the user about the due date for each vaccine.
Since its launch in April 2014, InfoVacunas has been downloaded by over
4,000 people. In the future, the MOH plans to link this app to the countrys National Immunization Registry.
InfoVacunas app
InfoVacunas is representing Chiles MOH in Innovation Challenges for the Public Sector 2014 (Desafos de Innovacin para el Sector Pblico 2014), a a national innovation competition.
A web page is available to learn more about this app, and the app itself can be downloaded here.
Page 2
November 2014
HIB vaccine is now in the National Immunization Programme of all EMR countries
Nadia Teleb, Regional Adviser, WHO/EMRO
18 November 2014 marked a major achievement in the history of immunization programmes in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. This milestone followed the introduction of the Haemophilus influenzae vaccine (Hib) in the Islamic Republic of Iran, at a ceremony attended by the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hassan Rouhani. The
Hib vaccine is now included in all national immunization programmes in the Region and
offered to infants free of charge. This remarkable achievement paves the way for the
introduction of more new vaccines and for the targets of the Expanded Programme on
Immunization (EPI) to be reached.
Celebration cake to mark the

introduction of Hib vaccine
in all EMR countries.
The Hib vaccine protects children against pneumonia, a major cause of death of children under five, thus significantly contributing to
achieving the targets of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG)4.
Participants at the twenty-eighth

intercountry meeting of regional EPI
managers on 19 November 2014
In 2006, WHO recommended the use of the vaccine in all countries. Due to financial, operational and country-specific constraints, the uptake of Hib vaccine in
middle-income countries not supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, showed a
slower trend compared to Gavi-supported and high-income countries of the Region.
Countries are also expected to complete the introduction of the inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) throughout the Region by the end of 2015. WHO will continue to provide technical, operational
and advocacy support to ensure the introduction of all necessary new and underutilized vaccines (i.e. pneumococcal,
rotavirus and human papillomavirus) throughout the Region.
This important milestone was celebrated during the last day of the twenty-eighth intercountry meeting of regional EPI
managers on 19 November 2014, in the presence of EPI managers of all countries, chairpersons of national immunization technical advisory groups, members of the regional technical advisory group, and global partners (UNICEF, Gavi
the Vaccine Alliance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and members of WHO headquarters) and the
Regional Office.
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation supports the LOGIVAC Project for professionalizing
Health Logistics in Sub-Saharan Africa
Vitalien Adoukonou and Philippe Jaillard, Agence de Mdecine Prventive (AMP)
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded additional funds to the LOGIVAC project to carry out activities to
professionalize the role of health logisticians in sub-Saharan Africa and to optimize the supply chain in Benin. The extra funding, allocated for October 2014 to March 2015, will support the following activities: funding scholarships for a
bachelors degree in health logistics and a new training on the solar cold chain; helping the LOGIVAC Centre to create and deliver tailor-made short trainings for: i) health logistics instructors; and ii) logisticians from the Expanded
Programme on Immunization (EPI), and a pilot Logistics Management Information System (LMIS) in the Com district.
The system will optimize the distribution rounds for vaccines and inputs made by logisticians and centralize the analysis of various EPI indicators.
These activities will complement the achievements of LOGIVAC to date, which has made a substantial contribution
over the last three years to health logistics in the region. Implemented by the Agence de Mdecine Prventive (AMP)
and WHO, LOGIVAC has notably supported the creation of the first French-language bachelors degree in health
logistics, now in its third year.
Another accomplishment is the implementation of a pilot project to optimize the supply chain in Com, based on the
guidelines adopted by Benins Ministry of Health following an EVM-HERMES assessment. The preliminary results show
a positive impact on the performance of the health system, in particular improving the availability of high-quality vaccines in health facilities. As a result, the Minister has decided to extend the model to the other regions in the country.
Page 3
November 2014
National Measles/Rubella (MR) campaign conducted in Yemen from

9-20 November 2014
Mohammed Osama Mere, WHO Yemen
From 9-20 November 2014, a national MR campaign was implemented in Yemen, during which around 11,161,314 children from
nine months to 15 years of age were vaccinated with MR vaccine.
The campaign was the first time that MR has been administered in
Yemen, and coverage of the target population reached of 98%.
Despite the political unrest and security turmoil in many areas,
the vaccination teams were able to reach the whole country Young boys being vaccinated during the Measles
through early planning and cooperation with the communities Rubella campaign
and local leaders. GAVI supported this campaign, covering 80%
of the operational cost, and the full cost of the MR vaccine. Detailed micro-plans were prepared at the health facility
level, including a timetable and map for every mobile team.
Operational rooms at central and governorate level were established prior to the campaign, and were functional
every day during the campaign. They received daily reports from all teams in the field, including the number of vaccinations, reports on Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP), measles/rubella, Adverse Event following Immunization (AEFI),
and follow-up on refusals and vaccination in high risk groups. Each day, information from the central operational
room with detailed analysis of the coverage at district level, vaccine wastage, and supervisors checklists were sent
to the governorate operational room for immediate corrective action. Around 68 suspected cases of MR were
reported and investigated. No severe AEFI cases were reported, while only 47 cases of moderate AEFI were reported ranging from mild swelling to mild allergy.
Special plans were prepared for the high risk groups at the health facility level, targeting groups such as refugees,
internally displaced persons (IDPs), marginalized and refusals. More than 103,000 individuals were vaccinated from
these groups.
Countries in the EMRO Region prepare for the introduction of IPV in the routine
immunization schedule
Vaccine Preventable Diseases and Immunization Unit, WHO EMRO
In line with the recommendations of the Strategic Advisory Groups of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization, and as per
the Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 20132018, the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region
that have not yet included at least one dose of the Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) in their routine immunization
schedules, are planning to introduce it by the end of 2015. In addition, countries will switch from trivalent Oral Polio
Vaccine (tOPV) to bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine (bOPV) in April 2016, before the eventual withdrawal of OPV by the
end of 2020.
Currently, of the 22 countries in the Region, 10 are not using IPV in routine immunization, namely Afghanistan, Djibouti, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan (six Gavi-supported countries) and Egypt, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq and Morocco (four middle income countries).
Among the Gavi-supported countries in the Region, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sudan and Yemen are approved for support to introduce IPV. Yemen plans to introduce IPV in December 2014, Sudan in February 2015 and Afghanistan
and Pakistan in mid-2015. Somalia is awaiting the outcome of its application to Gavi, while Djibouti plans to apply for
Gavi support in the January 2015 round and will be introducing IPV in routine immunization before the end of 2015.
Among middle-income countries in the Region, Tunisia introduced IPV in routine immunization successfully in September 2014, at six months of age, after fulfilling all the required preparations (satisfactory cold chain capacity,
health worker training and updating immunization cards). Iraq plans to introduce IPV in early 2015, while Egypt, the
Islamic Republic of Iran and Morocco plan to introduce IPV by mid-end 2015.
Page 4
Therefore, by the end of 2015, all the countries in the Region are expected to have at least one dose of IPV in their
routine immunization schedules in line with SAGE recommendations and the planned targets.
November 2014
Honduras expands the use of the web based Vaccine Supplies Stock Management
tool (wVSSM) to other non-vaccine products
Nora Luca Rodriguez, PAHO-Washington, DC
Four years ago, Honduras introduced VSSM (Vaccine Supplies Stock Management) to improve the management of vaccine and ancillary item inventories. VSSM has since demonstrated its benefits by providing reliable information for managers to use for order planning, stock management, and
cold chain and supply chain operations. In addition to the Central Vaccine
Store in Tegucigalpa, 19 out of 20 regional vaccine stores are also using
the same application successfully. Based on this experience, the newly
appointed Ministry of Health (MOH) made a bold decision to shift from
stand-alone VSSM to a web-based VSSM platform (wVSSM), and expanded
the range of commodities to include non-vaccine items. The new MOH
established a new logistics unit that manages all health products.
wVSSM training workshop carried out in

Tegucigalpa, Honduras, May 2014.
In May 2014, PAHO conducted a training workshop to train managers, pharmaceutical and IT staff, and cold chain
technicians in the installation and use of the wVSSM. Twenty participants attended, including administrative and legal
staff.
The wVSSM was installed on a temporary server and the opening stock of all vaccines and diluents, along with injection equipment and 15 medical non-vaccine items were uploaded to wVSSM version 4.7. This is significant because
Honduras is the first country globally to include non-vaccine items in the wVSSM.
wVSSM is a stock management application and so far has not been used as a planning tool. Senior management in
Honduras requested the addition of a new application to the wVSSM, increasing its functionality to list the products
ordered and those arriving in the future. A prototype process was designed to guide programmers developing the
new application.
In November 2014, PAHO conducted a visit to evaluate the use of the wVSSM, monitor its progress and identify
gaps, as well as to assess the new application. Authorities tested it and indicated required changes based on needs.
As of November 2014, a total of 420 products have been uploaded, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices and
vaccines.
Currently, the pilot wVSSM project is being implemented in the national pharmaceutical store, three hospitals, two
pharmacies and three pharmaceutical regional stores in Honduras: San Pedro Sula Metro, Cortes and Olancho, as
well as at the national vaccine store and three regional vaccine stores in the same regions mentioned above.
PAHOs Dr. Cuauhtmoc Ruiz-Matus Awarded for Achievements in Health

Octavia Silva, PAHO-Washington, DC
The H. Commission of the Mexican Society of Public Health has awarded the
Pan-American Health Organizations (PAHO) own Dr Cuauhtmoc Ruiz-Matus
with the 2014 Medal for Health Excellence as an acknowledgement of his outstanding career in public health and for the indisputable contributions he has
made both to the Mexican Society of Public Health and to the field of public
health.
Dr Cuauhtmoc Ruiz-Matus accepts

the 2014 Medal for Health Excellence
in Mexico.
The award was given to Dr Ruiz-Matus on 19 November 2014 during the inauguration ceremony for the 67th Annual Public Health Meeting in Mrida Yucatn, Mexico, his native country. It was here that he worked with the Secretary
of Health for 25 years, before coming to PAHO and heading the Comprehensive Family Immunization Unit of the Family, Gender and Life Course.
Page 5
November 2014
Global updates on Objective 2 of the Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic

Plan 2013-2018
Lisa Menning, WHO Headquarters
Application of the WHO Multi-Dose Vial Policy for IPV
In November 2014, the multi-dose vials of IPV produced by Sanofi
Pasteur and Bilthoven Biologicals were approved for use for up to 28
days after opening.
The approval decision was based on new preservative efficacy data
from studies conducted by Bilthoven Biologicals and Sanofi Pasteur
on their IPV vaccines presented in five- and ten-dosevials. The data
showed that both multi-dose vaccine presentations may be used up
to 28 days after opening, provided that the product is appropriately
handled and stored.
Example of vaccine vial with the VVM on
the label, supporting use of the vial up to
28 days opening.
A summary document on the application of the multi-dose vial policy

(MDVP) for IPV and the programmatic implications is available on the
WHO IPV/OPV website.
Medscape video on IPV introduction and OPV withdrawal

Medscape Education and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative have developed an educational training video
called The Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan: Implications of Objective 2 which features Walter Orenstein,
MD, Professor and Associate Director of the Emory Vaccine Center, and Jos Vandelaer, MD, Chief of Immunization, Programme Division, UNICEF.
The presentation outlines the objectives and rationale for IPV Introduction and OPV withdrawal, with information
on supply, pricing, multiple injections, and other considerations for planning.
In addition to the video, a PowerPoint version and transcript is available for download. All information is available
upon registration for Medscape membership (free) at the Medscape website.
For more information on objective 2 of the Endgame Plan
The WHO IPV/OPV web site includes a comprehensive range of information on this programme, including summary documents, scientific papers, and a range of materials to support planning and implementation, e.g. health
worker training modules and communications templates.
Please visit the site to explore what is available and share the link with partners and colleagues.
Page 6
November 2014
Consultant Positions Available

Contract: Immunization Policies and Strategies
11 Months, from 12 January 12 December 2015
In light of the increased workload anticipated in 2015 due to both the Ebola response and the accelerated introduction of IPV vaccine into more than 100 countries, this consultancy is intended to provide additional support to the
EPI Team. The role will focus on two main areas: 1) Assistance to the Policies and Strategies Group to develop and
disseminate materials on policies, strategies, and guidance, and; 2) Provide technical assistance to regions and countries in missions to plan and monitor SIAs, reviews, evaluations, and other visits and trainings as requested.
Contract: Polio Project Management and Ebola response

12 months, from 1 January to 31 December 2015
The Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals (IVB) at WHO Headquarters is seeking a long-term consultant to provide surge support across two areas identified as international health emergencies and thus priorities by
WHO: 1) assistance to polio eradication and support to the IMG, and; 2) coordination of vaccine and other related
research for Ebola.
For more information on either of the consultant positions available, please see the WHO IVB web site.
Upcoming meeting
International Association of Immunization Managers (IAIM) announces Inaugural
Conference for members
Peter Carrasco, Sabin Vaccine Institute
The International Association of Immunization Managers (IAIM) is pleased to announce its Inaugural Conference, to
be held 3-4 March 2015 in Istanbul, Turkey.
This historic international conference will offer IAIM members the opportunity to meet their peers in other countries, exchange information and best practices in immunization programme management, and learn more about the
professional support that IAIM offers them to help advance their management and leadership skills.
The two-day programme will cover:
An introduction to IAIM and membership benefits
Informational presentations featuring best practices in immunization programme management
Networking sessions and break-out sessions for members to engage in in-depth discussion of specific management
solutions
Member presentations on management experiences, successes, and challenges
The election of the IAIM Governing Council (the associations governing body) from among the membership
The working languages for the meeting are English and French (with simultaneous interpretation available). Participation is open to IAIM members of all membership types and from all countries. Those who are not already a member
of IAIM will need to take out membership - either as an Immunization Manager Member or an Associate Member - in
order to register for this event. Please visit this link to join and to learn more about this exciting conference and other IAIM membership benefits.
Page 7
November 2014
Meetings/Workshops
Using information and communication technology to improve immunization
programmes
Jan Grevendonk, WHO
Location:
Istanbul, Turkey
Date:
11 - 13 November 2014
Participants:
95 people representing ministries of health,

WHO, UNICEF, CDC, BMGF, Gavi the Vaccine
alliance, JSI, CHAI, Public Health Foundation of
India, Village Reach, Abt, AIRA, Logistimo, Dimagi, Shifo, Vaxtrac, Nexleaf, NovelT, HISP and )
Makarere University.
Purpose:
To share experiences about the use of information and communication technology in immun- Break out group discussion. Credit: Jan Grevendonk
ization programmes, to brainstorm on ways to
use these technologies in a sustainable way for
programme improvement and to consult about
the need for guidance.
Details:
Representatives from diverse organizations and countries met to share experiences with the use of
information technology to strengthen immunization programmes. More than 30 systems, tools and
projects were presented and discussed in breakout sessions. These were dedicated to reporting
systems, logistics management information systems, electronic immunization registries, and underused technologies such as geographical information systems.
While these sessions showed a lot of progress and potential, challenges remain to scale up and
sustain the use of appropriate technologies in the lowest income countries. Country representatives called upon partners to work towards shared national priorities in the countries they worked
in, rather than placing their own agendas first. Participants also agreed that updated guidance is
needed around data standards, the use of data for decision making, and the use of information systems including new technologies.
Four subgroups then discussed the kind of guidance that would be useful in the areas of program
performance monitoring, data for supply chain management, electronic immunization registries, and
barriers towards integration and interoperability. In the coming months, WHO will take the lead to
further develop guidance in all these domains in consultation with partners. A meeting report will
be made available at this link.
Page 8
November 2014
European Regional Verification Commission for the Elimination of Measles and

Rubella (RVC)
Catherine de Kat-Reynen, WHO Europe
Location:
Copenhagen, Denmark
Date:
10-12 November 2014
Participants:
RVC members, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, United Nations Childrens
Fund, United States Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention
Purpose:
The RVC is an independent panel of experts tasked

with determining whether endemic transmission
continues or has been interrupted in each Member
State based on annual updates submitted by national Participants of the RVC meeting, 10-12 November
verification committees. Its ultimate goal is to de- 2014. Credit : WHO
clare the Region measles and rubella free.
Details:
The eight-member panel evaluated 50 reports for 2013 as well as several for 20102012 that had
been submitted after last years meeting. The RVC was pleased to note that 50 Member States have
now established national verification commissions and, as a result, more Member States had submitted
timely and complete annual reports than in the previous year. Nearly half of the 53 Member States in
the European Region have demonstrated interruption of endemic transmission of measles and rubella.
The available data for the remaining Member States was either inconclusive or indicative of endemic
transmission.
Through the annual review process a much clearer picture is emerging of where and why measles and
rubella outbreaks are occurring in the European Region and the effects of measures being taken to
control them. Although the quality of reporting needs further improvement, increased submissions
and completeness of reports have enabled the team to look more critically at disease surveillance and
immunization programme performance, and therefore to make more in-depth evaluations and recommendations.
Page 9
November 2014
National conference on rotavirus vaccine introduction in Tajikistan

Catherine de Kat-Reynen, WHO Europe
Location:
Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Date:
30 October 2014
Participants:
Various ministry departments, medical academia and

partners, including the United Nations Childrens Fund
and the Agha Khan Foundation.
Purpose:
To raise awareness and ensure broad support for in- Participants at national conference on rotavirus
introduction, 30 October 2014, Dushanbe,
troduction of rotavirus vaccine.
Tajikistan. Credit: WHO
Details:
According to the latest sentinel surveillance data, almost 40% of hospitalizations for diarrhea
among children under age five in Tajikistan is caused by rotavirus. With support from Gavi, in 2015
Tajikistan will become the fourteenth Member State in the WHO European Region to introduce
rotavirus vaccine into its national immunization schedule. Introduction of the vaccine will significantly decrease morbidity and mortality caused by this disease.
The conference was held by WHO and the Republican Immunoprophylaxis Center under the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population, both of which presented information on
the rotavirus situation at global and national levels. Guest speaker Dr Svetlana Grigorian shared
experiences and lessons learned from Armenia, where the vaccine was introduced in 2012. The
teachers, medical practitioners and decision-makers attending the conference are considered to be
particularly influential and important in terms of promoting vaccine uptake.
International Evaluation of Perus National Immunization Strategy

Fabiana Michel, PAHO-Peru; Alba Maria Ropero, PAHO-Washington, DC
Page 10
Location:
Peru
Date:
20-31 October 2014
Participants:
International PAHO experts (Ecuador, Nicaragua and Washington, DC), United States Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Harvard University, Brazil, Chile, Honduras and Switzerland, as well as national officials from different levels.
Purpose:
To analyze the Immunization Strategy in the context of Perus health system, their environment
and their ability to adapt to new demands, such as those generated by health reforms and those
that arise in response to the needs of the population, among others: maintaining the elimination
and eradication of vaccine-preventable diseases; attending to the unfinished agenda; sustainably introducing new vaccines and technologies; and keeping immunization on the political agenda.
Details:
The main aspects evaluated include: financing and sustainability of the programme, managerial and
administrative capacity at all levels, data quality and the information system, the epidemiological
surveillance system, the cold chain, vaccine safety, social mobilization activities and user satisfaction,
as well as the integration of Immunization in the programme in the health system.
The evaluation team presented a detailed final report comparing the progress from the previous
evaluation, and a five-year Plan of Action to serve as a roadmap for implementing the evaluations
recommendations.
November 2014
PAHO/WHO Regional Polio Meeting

Cristina Pedreira and Liz Thrush, PAHO-Washington, DC
Location:
Cancun, Mexico
Date:
11-13 November 2014
Participants:
From 24 countries of the Region: national immunization programmes, acute flaccid paralysis
(AFP) surveillance officers, laboratories for the
diagnosis of polio, and PAHO focal points for
immunization. Partners from WHO, CDC,
Gavi, Task Force, and UNICEF along with the
President of the PAHO Regional Certification
Committee (RCC).
Purpose:
To discuss the implementation of the Polio PAHO/WHOs Regional Polio Meeting, Cancun, Mexico,
Eradication and Endgame Strategic (PEES) Plan 11-13 November 2014.
2013-2018 in the Americas, with an emphasis
on inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) introduction in routine immunization programmes.
Details:
The meeting covered an array of topics related to the PEES and IPV introduction, including the rationale for IPV introduction, humoral and intestinal immunity studies on polio vaccination, the Regional Laboratory Network for the diagnosis of polio, IPV supply through the Revolving Fund, country
experiences with IPV introduction, registration status of IPV in the Region, AFP surveillance, environmental surveillance, poliovirus containment, IPV communication tools, the Regional Certification
Committee, the polio database and weekly bulletin, vaccination coverage, the legacy of polio eradication in the Americas, and the global switch from trivalent oral polio vaccine (tOPV) to bivalent oral
polio vaccine (bOPV).
Currently, 69% of the birth cohort (BC) in the Region of the Americas lives in countries that are already using IPV in routine immunization programmes; 15 countries (20% of BC) have officially decided
to introduce IPV in 2015; and the remaining 17 countries (11% of BC), have made a decision at the
technical level to introduce IPV in 2015. PAHO expects that these 17 countries will make the official
decision for IPV introduction by the end of 2014.
Resources
Immunization costing and financing: A tool and user guide for comprehensive
Multi-Year Plan (cMYP) - Update 2014
Outil de calcul des cots et de financement PPAc-Guide d'utilisation: Mise jour juin
2014 (WHO/IVB/14.06F)
This update is now available in French.
Estimating the costs and financing of immunization programmes is a key step in the development of a comprehensive
Multi-Year Plan (cMYP). To help undertake the costing and financing of a cMYP a tool has been developed - the
cMYP Costing and Financing Tool. This tool is accompanied by a User Guide which provides an overview of important immunization costing and financing concepts, methodologies and definitions, as well as step-by-step instruction on how to use the costing and financing tool, including how to analyze the data and findings.
Page 11
November 2014
Resources
Vaccine Safety Net newsletter
Isabelle Sahinovic, WHO Headquarters
WHO developed this new publication in response to the growing number of websites
providing misinformation regarding vaccine safety.
The newsletter aims to disseminate news and information about the WHO Vaccine
Safety Net (VSN); foster communication and synergy among VSN members and promote good information practices for websites providing vaccine safety information.
The newsletter focuses exclusively on information related to vaccine safety and covers
the following topics:
VSN policies and procedures;
compliance with GACVS criteria for good information practices;
information resources for websites providing information on vaccine safety
and GACVS information and statements.
Content includes articles submitted by VSN members.
The Vaccine Safety Net Newsletter, which will be published quarterly in English and is intended to serve as a resource for a broad group of stakeholders including VSN members, interested members of the international vaccine community, and staff from WHO Headquarters, Regional Offices and Country Offices.
To access the VSN newsletter.
Practical Guide: Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine (IPV) Introduction

Cristina Pedreira and Liz Thrush , PAHO-Washington, DC
One of the four objectives of the Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 2013-2018
(PEES) is the withdrawal of the oral polio vaccine (OPV), beginning with the withdrawal
of the type 2 component of the trivalent oral polio vaccine (tOPV). The PEES includes a
timeline for the global withdrawal of tOPV: 1) by the end of 2014, all countries should
have defined an IPV introduction plan; 2) by the end of 2015, all countries should have
introduced at least one dose of IPV into the routine immunization schedule; and 3) in
April 2016, if all pre-requisites have been fulfilled, WHO will coordinate a synchronized
global switch from tOPV to bOPV.
PAHO/WHO Practical Guide: Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine (IPV) Introduction
To support countries of the Americas to meet this objective, PAHOs Immunization Unit has developed a practical guide for IPV Introduction. This practical guide presents the information and describes strategies that health
teams in the countries of the Americas should be aware of in order to draw up their plans for the introduction of
the IPV into their routine vaccination programmes.
The guide was delivered to the countries and territories of the Region at the Regional Polio Meeting in Cancun,
Mexico from 11-13 November 2014 and at the Sub-Regional Caribbean EPI Managers Meeting in St. Maarten from
19-21 November 2014. It is also available at the PAHO Immunization website.
Other general global materials to support planning and introduction of IPV in the context of the PEES are available
on the central WHO website.
Page 12
November 2014
Calendar
2014
December
3-4
Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS) meeting
Geneva, Switzerland
4-5
AFRO Task-Force on Immunization (TFI)
Brazzaville, Congo
8-12
Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Laboratory Network Meeting
Manila, Philippines
9-10
SEARO Regional Working Group on New Vaccines Introduction and Health

Systems Strengthening
Myanmar
10-11
Gavi Board Meeting
Geneva, Switzerland
26-3
Executive Board
Geneva, Switzerland
27
Gavi Pledging Conference
TBD
30
European Technical Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (ETAGE) and Copenhagen, Denmark (?)
Extraordinary TAG Meeting
2015
January
February
16-20
cMYP Training Workshop
Geneva, Switzerland
March
3-4
Inaugural Conference of The International Association of Immunization Manag- Istanbul, Turkey

ers (IAIM)
16-27
Gavi Independent Review Committee (IRC) for new proposals
Geneva, Switzerland
Meeting of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization
Geneva, Switzerland
4-5
Gavi Programme & Policy Committee
Geneva, Switzerland
11-13
Gavi High Lever Review Panel (HLRP)
Geneva, Switlzerland
12-14
2015 Technet Consultation
TBD, Thailand
18-23
68th World Health Assembly
April
14-16
May
30-2May 9th International Conference on Typhoid and other invasive salmonellosis
Bali, Indonesia
June
10-11
Gavi Alliance Board Meeting
Geneva, Switzerland
15-19
SEARO Technical Advisory Group Meeting
New Delhi, India (?)
Page 13
November 2014
July
20-24
Geneva, Switzerland
September
1-2
EURO VPI Programme Managers Meeting
Antwerp, Belgium
3-4
EURO Polio EPI and Lab Managerss Meeting
Antwerp, Belgium
7-8
Gavi Programme and Policy Committee
Geneva, Switzerland
14-16
Geneva, Switzerland
20-22
Meeting of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization
Geneva, Switzerland
October
November
6-20
Gavi Independent Review Committee (IRC) for new proposals
Geneva, Switzerland
December
2-3
Page 14
Gavi Board Meeting
Geneva, Switzerland
November 2014
Links
Organizations and Initiatives
American Red Cross
Child Survival
Sabin Vaccine Institute

Sustainable Immunization Financing
Agence de Mdecine Prventive

Africhol
EpiVacPlus
LOGIVAC Project
SIVAC
UNICEF
Immunization
Supplies and Logistics
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Polio
Global Vaccines and Immunization
Johns Hopkins
International Vaccine Access Center
Vaccine Information Management System
JSI
Africa Routine Immunization Systems Essentials Project
IMMUNIZATIONbasics
Maternal and Child Health Integrated Program (MCHIP)
USAID
Maternal and Child Health Integrated Program
WHO
Department of Immunization, Vaccines & Biologicals
New and Under-utilized Vaccines Implementation
ICO Information Centre on HPV and Cancer
Immunization financing
Immunization service delivery
Immunization surveillance, assessment and monitoring
SIGN Alliance
PATH
Vaccine Resource Library
Rotavirus Vaccine Access and Delivery
Malaria Vaccine Initiative
Meningitis Vaccine Project
RHO Cervical Cancer
Other
Coalition Against Typhoid
Dengue Vaccine Initiative
European Vaccine Initiative
Gardasil Access Program
Gavi the Vaccine Alliance
International Association of Public Health Logisticians
International Vaccine Institute
Measles & Rubella Initiative
Multinational Influenza Seasonal Mortality Study
TechNet-21
Vaccines Today
WHO Regional Websites
UNICEF Regional Websites
Routine Immunization and New Vaccines (AFRO)

Immunization (PAHO)
Vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization (EMRO)
Vaccines and immunization (EURO)
Immunization (SEARO)
Immunization (WPRO)
Immunization (Central and Eastern Europe)

Immunization (Eastern and Southern Africa)
Immunization (South Asia)
Immunization (West and Central Africa)
Child survival (Middle East and Northern Africa)
Health and nutrition (East Asia and Pacific)
Health and nutrition (Americas)
PAHO
ProVac Initiative
Newsletters
Immunization Monthly update in the African Region (AFRO)
Immunization Newsletter (PAHO)
The Civil Society Dose (GAVI CSO Constituency)
TechNet Digest
RotaFlash (PATH)
Gavi Programme Bulletin (Gavi)
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