News In this issue

News

Brazil introduces Human Papillomavirus

vaccine nationally

National Launching of Rotavirus

Vaccine in Sierra Leone

Kenya conducted the first ever Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine campaign

Peruvian Officials Join Directors of WHO and PAHO to Open New

Vaccine Cold-Storage Center in Lima

EPI Cold Chain Strengthening and

Vaccination Registry, Dominican Re-public

Taking a Holistic Approach to Effective Vaccine Management in Kenya

DQS of immunization data in the context of the external evaluation of

the national immunization programme of Burundi

2

2

3

3

4

4

5

Meetings / workshops

Annual meeting of the managers of

national immunization programmes in Central Africa

AMP supports the launch of an inter-sectoral coalition for human resources for health in Benin

Supervisor Meeting on New Vaccine

Surveillance

6

7

8

Resources 8-

10

Calendar 11-12

Links 13

World Immunization Week 2014: Are you up to date? Hayatee Hasan, WHO HQ

This year’s World Immunization Week (WIW 2014)

campaign which takes place from 24-30 April 2014

asks “Are you up-to-date?” with your immunizations.

The WIW 2014 campaign efforts will focus on

providing families with the information they need to

make informed decisions about vaccination. The

global slogan is “Immunize for a healthy future –

Know. Check. Protect”.

The campaign website in the six official languages is

now live. An online, multilingual toolbox which al-

lows campaign supporters to build their own post-

ers, choosing from different visuals is also available.

Help us spread the word by choosing a poster from

our online, multilingual toolbox. Print, post in your

office, school, or health-care centre, and share on

social media to make this year’s campaign truly glob-

al.

A 30-second public service announcement (PSA) based on the posters is currently in de-

velopment. The PSA will be produced in six languages and available in early April 2014.

We encourage campaign supporters to share the PSA on social media. An infographic on

measles aimed at the general public is in development highlighting “what you should know

about measles” and will be available in English, French and Spanish. We will be using the

hashtag #RUuptodate for outreach on Twitter.

At least 180 countries are expected to participate in

this year’s event and implementing a wide range of

activities including vaccination campaigns against dis-

eases including polio, measles, rubella, diphtheria,

mumps, whooping cough, influenza, yellow fever;

rollout of new vaccines such rotavirus vaccine; training

workshops; exhibits; round-table discussions; public

information campaigns; and more. Please register any

events that you are planning on our website and en-

courage people in your networks to do so too.

Different geographical regions emphasize different themes to adapt to their specific needs.

For WIW 2014, the regional focus is as follows:

Africa: Vaccination - a shared responsibility

The Americas: Vaccination: Your best shot

Eastern Mediterranean: Are you up-to-date?

Europe: Immunization for life

South-East Asia: Intensification of routine immunization

Western Pacific: Stop hepatitis B and liver cancer. Vaccinate at birth

Global Immunization News (GIN) March 2014

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Page 2

Global Immunization News (GIN) March 2014

Brazil introduces Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine nationally Carla Domingues, Ministry of Health, Brazil; Samia Abdul Samad and Andrea Vicari, PAHO/WHO

On 10 March 2014, Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff launched national vaccination

against human papillomavirus (HPV). This year, the Ministry of Health (MoH) plans

to vaccinate 5.2 million girls aged 11–13 years. In 2015 vaccination will target girls

aged 9–11 years and from 2016 girls aged 9 years.

The quadrivalent vaccine is being administered in an extended immunization sche-

dule (three doses at zero, six and 60 months). In a partnership with a national and

an international manufacturer, the MoH oversees technology transfer so that the

HPV vaccine can be produced locally within five years.

Health workers administer the HPV vaccine at public and private schools and at

the 36,000 vaccination centers of the national health system. Upon receiving the

first dose, a girl is oriented as to which vaccination centre to attend for the second dose.

The MoH is closely tracking vaccine uptake at the sub national and local levels. An online system, called vacinôme-

tro (vaccine-o-meter), reports daily data for the 5,565 municipalities (districts) of the country. As of 24 March

2014, two weeks into the vaccination, 31.1% of targeted girls had received their first HPV vaccine dose (1.6 million

doses administered).

In the Americas, 20 countries—including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Trinidad

and Tobago, the United States, and Uruguay—now offer HPV vaccine in their publicly funded immunization pro-

grammes. The introduction in Brazil is particularly relevant because it increases the proportion of adolescent girls

in the Americas with guaranteed access to HPV vaccine from 58.9% to 81.3%.

National Launching of Rotavirus Vaccine in Sierra Leone Rosmarie E. K. Jah, UNICEF Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone has the highest child mortality rate in the world and the majority of children in the country die from

preventable and easily treatable diseases. Diarrhoea is one of the primary causes of illness and death of children

under the age of five. and rotavirus is one of its leading causes.

It is good news that rotavirus vaccine will now be made accessible free of charge for

children in Sierra Leone. On 28 March 2014, the vaccine was integrated into the

routine immunization schedule at all levels of the programme. UNICEF, WHO, and

the GAVI Alliance fully support the Government of Sierra Leone in its decision to

introduce the vaccine. UNICEF Country Representative Roeland Monasch explains

that “the rotavirus vaccine is a low-cost, high-impact solution that will contribute to

the reduction of death among children and realizing the MDG 4”.

There is excitement about the nationwide introduction of the rotavirus vaccine be-

cause it promises to significantly reduce cases of severe diarrhoea caused by the

rotavirus. However, hygiene practices in the handling of food, hand-washing with

soap, access to potable water and environmental sanitation remain core elements in

the prevention of diarrhoea.

“Whilst rotavirus is one of the major causes of diarrhoea, it does not account for all

types of diarrhea”, cautions Dr Nuhu, Immunization Specialist at UNICEF Sierra

Leone. Therefore, the launch of the rotavirus vaccine is accompanied by a major

communication campaign aimed at raising awareness and knowledge that the vaccine

is important but not a panacea for all causes of diarrhoea. As much as caregivers are

encouraged to take their children five times to health clinics for the vaccination,

they are called upon to improve their own hygiene behaviours which remain essential in protecting their children

from all forms of diarrhoea.

Brazil’s online vaccine-o-meter

helps track vaccine data at the

sub national and local levels.

This poster supports the

national launch of the rota

virus vaccine. In order to

encourage both parents to

ensure that their children

receive the rota virus vacci-

nation, it shows men as well

as women bringing their

children to health centres

for vaccination (“marklate”).

Page 3

Global Immunization News (GIN) March 2014

Kenya conducted the first ever Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine campaign Shaikh Humayun Kabir, Consultant and Ondrej Mach, Samuel Oumo Okiror, World Health Organization

Kenya has been free of polio since 2006. But since then it has experienced several

importations of wild polioviruses (WPV) causing outbreaks.

In response to the 2013 WPV outbreak in northern Kenya, the Inactivated Po-

liovirus Vaccine (IPV) had been co-administered with the Oral Poliovirus Vaccine

(OPV) in Dadaab refugee camps and adjacent host communities targeting 126,000

children under five in a campaign manner in December 2013. The main objective

of this novel approach was to accelerate interruption of WPV circulation and to

protect vaccinated children for life against polio. IPV& OPV were co-administered

from fixed posts, temporary fixed posts and in some cases through house to

house teams. The overall IPV& OPV admin-

istrative coverage was >98%.

The Independent coverage Evaluation Survey revealed the OPV and IPV cover-

age as 92.8% in refugee camps and 95.8% in host communities. No major issues

were reported regarding injection safety and cold chain.

The most common reasons for not receiving IPV vaccine were: 1) Caregiver did

not know about the campaign (46%) 2) Child was absent (9%) 3) Fear of injec-

tion(7%).

Appropriate evidence-based social mobilization activities helped raise the com-

munity acceptance. The lessons-learned from the implementation of the cam-

paign important when planning future IPV use.

Peruvian officials join Directors of WHO and PAHO to open new vaccine

cold-storage center in Lima Inés Calderón, PAHO-Peru

A new vaccine cold store was inaugurated on 21 February 2014 in Lima, Pe-

ru, by the Peruvian First Lady, Nadine Heredia, and the Minister of Health

Midori De Habich, together with the World Health Organization (WHO)

Director-General Margaret Chan and Pan American Health Organization

(PAHO) Director Carissa F. Etienne. The new centre is housed at the East

Lima Health Department (DISA IV) in the Peruvian capital.

Heredia noted that maintenance of the vaccine cold chain is an essential part

of Peru’s efforts to guarantee vaccination, especially for children.

“Vaccination is a national effort, and ensuring that the population is immuni-

zed against diseases is one of the main responsibilities of the Ministry of

Health,” said Dr De Habich, adding that the cold chain ensures that vaccines

are available throughout the country. Dr De Habich said the new centre will

ensure safe storage of vaccines and in crisis situations will serve as the main

storage site for Lima. DISA Director Luis Fuentes also participated in the

inauguration of the new centre.

Dr Chan, Dr Etienne and Peruvian officials also participated in an information

fair on the prevention of cancer and tuberculosis at the Plaza de Armas of El

Agustino, a district of some 180,000 inhabitants in eastern Lima. They also met with a group of health promoters who

received recognition for their work. Other participants in the activity included the Mayor of El Agustino Victor

Salcedo, PAHO/WHO Representative Fernando Leanes, staff from DISA IV, and staff of PAHO/WHO’s country office

in Lima.

IPV vaccination in a temporary fixed

post , 14 Dec 2013, Dadaab, Kenya

Ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new

center for cold vaccine storage in East

Lima with Carissa F. Etienne, PAHO

Director; Nadine Heredia, First Lady;

Midori de Habich, Minister of Health and

Luis Fuentes, Director Disa IV East Lima.

Credit : Inés Calderon/PAHO.

IPV vaccination in a temporary fixed

post , 14 Dec 2013, Dadaab, Kenya

Page 4

Global Immunization News (GIN) March 2014

EPI Cold Chain strengthening and vaccination registry, Dominican Republic Irene Leal, PAHO-Dominican Republic

In a joint effort of the Ministry of Public Health and the Of-

fice of Social Policy, led by the Vice President of the Repub-

lic, the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) was

equipped with 500 dual refrigerators (gas and electric),

1,100 thermometers, 1,500 thermoses, 8,000 icepacks, 70

coolers, 1,000 tanks and 500 double gas regulators to

strengthen the cold chain in 50% of the country's vaccination

posts. These devices not only increase the storage capacity

because the thermoses have a higher capacity than the ones

currently in use, but will also provide greater security

against power outages by using gas refrigerators.

This injection of resources is done entirely from the govern-

ment's budget, demonstrating the political will to improve

the quality of care and strengthening the cold chain, in a

year when the use of the rotavirus and pneumococcal vac-

cines, introduced to the EPI in 2012 and 2013, respectively, is consolidated.

Similarly, there have been 1,012 computers delivered to 90% of vaccination posts, initiating a process of compute-

rization of the immunization registries that will resolve the recording and reporting of coverage in each municipa-

lity. For now, training in basic computing has started for those responsible for vaccination posts and will culminate

with the implementation of nominal registry software in 2014 and 2015.

The Vice President of the Dominican Republic accom-

panied by the Director of Public Health, the Director of

Strengthening the Service Network, and the national

EPI manager, at the time of delivery. Credit: Irene Leal/

PAHO.

Taking a holistic approach to Effective Vaccine Management in Kenya Hailu Makonnen Kenea, UNICEF ESARO and Ticky Raubenheimer, UNICEF Consultant

In November 2013 Kenya launched a holistic version of the Effective Vaccine Management (EVM) process, target-

ing system-wide improvements of national immunization supply chain systems. UNICEF, WHO and global partners

supported the EVM assessment and helped develop the national Improvement Plan and the GAVI Health System

Strengthening (HSS) proposal.

The EVM assessment highlighted excellent practices and revealed deficiencies. The findings and the ensuing consul-

tative process helped to focus the GAVI HSS grant application and technical support from partners on practical

strategies to overcome existing gaps for system-wide improvements.

‘Holistic’ Approach to EVM: The Kenya Experience

The approach enabled Kenya to support its plans for urgent

investment in Cold Chain and Logistics (CCL). The strategic

roadmap now extends to service delivery, human resources,

information systems, and strengthened governance in the con-

text of devolution.

The holistic approach helped leverage improvements in cold

chain equipment and temperature management.

The EVM process highlighted the need for a team of specialized

technical experts to be integrated with the Ministry of Health

team, in order to leverage other areas of health systems in sup-

port of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). Kenya

is expected to move towards the implementation of the roadmap as part of continuous quality improvement to

reach recommended standards for effective vaccine management, with national ownership and government com-

mitment.

Global Immunization News (GIN) March 2014

Data Quality Self-Assessment (DQS) of immunization data in the context of the

external evaluation of the national immunization programme of Burundi Auguste Ambendet, WHO IST Central

The Ministry of Health Burundi led the external evaluation of its national immunization programme from 14 October-

8 November 2014, including the assessment of the accuracy of the immunization and surveillance data and the quality

of immunization monitoring through the data quality self-assessment tool (DQS ). Data were collected for the period

January to June 2013 in 19 health districts (DS) and 38 health centers (HC).

In summary, this evaluation showed that over-reporting was the most observed, meaning that all the information re-

ported could not be verified. The two main causes are:

The calculation errors on scorecards, reports and data entry in databases ;

Tallying of children without entering them into the vaccination registries.

Several hypotheses have been raised about the causes and need to be verified, including:

Over registering (duplicates) of fully immunized children in the case of performance-based funding;

Vaccinating the same children several times with MMR to be able to receive mosquito nets (?)

Children registered, but not counted, therefore, not included in the monthly report sent to the DS;

All these causes are related to the lack of a mechanism for monitoring and verifying data transmitted to the next level.

For the quality of immunization monitoring:

The quality index (QI) overall average is 76.9 % for districts and 72.7 % for health facilities ;

Reporting and archiving recorded the highest scores (QI > 80%) ;

Epidemiological surveillance recorded the lowest score (QI = 56 %).

The data quality needs to be improved. Recommendations were made and a problem-solving plan proposed :

Increase the number and ability of staff in charge of data management;

Developing a culture of data quality and systematization of the review and validation of data before transmission at

all levels;

For performance based funding, establish control mechanisms to avoid any negative effects on the quality of immun-

ization data.

Page 5

Global Immunization News (GIN) March 2014

Meetings / workshops

Annual meeting of the managers of national immunization programmes in Central

Africa

Auguste Ambendet, WHO IST Central

Location: Bujumbura, Burundi

Date: 24-26 February 2014

Participants: Delegations composed of the Director of EPI and

focal points from WHO and UNICEF, from Angola,

Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad,

Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equato-

rial Guinea, and Sao Tome and Principe.

Purpose: To enable participants to discuss the progress made

by the countries in 2013 and obtain consensus on

priority actions in 2014 to reduce morbidity and

mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases.

Group Photo of Attendees of the EPI managers

meeting for Central Africa

Details: The meeting was organized in five sessions, preceded by an inaugural session, under the Second

Vice-President of the Republic of Burundi. The topics discussed were: immunization systems

strengthening; the Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI); the Accelerated Immunization Initiatives

(measles, maternal and neonatal tetanus, yellow fever and meningitis); and improving data quality.

The working methodology consisted of presentations in plenary sessions, followed by discussions.

Special meetings were held with the delegations of some countries (Angola, Cameroon, CAR,

Chad, and DRC) to discuss their problems and how best to support the countries with their chal-

lenges. Three separate lunch-time sessions were also organized, focusing on: 1) new developments

from the GAVI Board; 2) funding for vaccination, with the Sabin Vaccine Institute; and 3) the deter-

minants of vaccination cards kept by the parents, with WHO and UNICEF.

Following this meeting, 25 recommendations were made, discussed and adopted. The information

collected from country delegations were used to develop a table for monitoring activities to be

implemented in the country.

Participants in the meeting noted with concern the occurrence of Wild poliovirus (WPV) in Came-

roon in 2013, including the circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV) in Cameroon and Chad,

the large number of unvaccinated children, and the weakness of surveillance. However, glimmers

of hope exist , especially with the positive trends observed in Angola, Chad and DRC.

This meeting was followed, on 27 February 2014, by a briefing on the implementation of the Stra-

tegic Plan for polio eradication and its final goal 2013-2018, including the recommendations from

the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) which met in November 2013, the funding strate-

gy for the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) and the decisions from the GAVI Board meeting in No-

vember 2013.

On 28 February 2014, internal meetings were organized independently by WHO and UNICEF, and

were followed in the afternoon, by the WHO-UNICEF joint meeting with the prospect of better

coordinating interventions.

Page 6

Global Immunization News (GIN) March 2014

AMP supports the launch of an intersectoral coalition for human resources for health

in Benin

Vitalien Adoukonou, Sabrina Gaber, Hortance Kouame, and Marjorie Nicol, Agence de Médecine preventive (AMP)

Location: Cotonou, Benin Date: 20 March 2014

Participants: Representatives from the MoH and AMP, as well as

diverse actors from both the public and private sec-

tors (partner ministries, civil society, communities,

training institutions, health workers, media).

Purpose: To review and finalize the proposed coalition objec-

tives, organization, and member roles.

A group photo of the launch of Benin’s intersectoral

coalition for human resources for health (HRH),

which will support the development of a qualified

and competent pool of HRH advocates. Two addi-

tional coalitions will soon be created, with the sup-

port of AMP’s ADAMA project, in Mauritania and

Togo.

Details: The Ministry of Health (MoH) of Benin officially launched its intersectoral coalition for human re-

sources for health (HRH) during this workshop. The event was organized with the technical and fi-

nancial support of the Agence de Medecine Preventive (AMP) through its ADAMA (Advocating for

available skilled manpower in Africa) project.

During the workshop, participants agreed on the following objectives: to pool individual and group

efforts and resources to support health workers, and to advocate for African HRH through the orga-

nization of campaigns and other actions.

For the 2014 workplan, , it was agreed that the coalition would support several activities including

capacity building of members to advocate for HRH and the organization of advocacy campaigns.

At the end of the workshop, a declaration of intent, committing all members of the coalition, was

adopted unanimously. This statement will be distributed to HRH partners.

Following the workshop, the ADAMA team brought together partner training institutions to discuss

how to incorporate HRH advocacy training materials into the national curriculum.

Mauritania and Togo, the other two countries in the ADAMA project, will launch their coalitions in

April 2014.

Page 7

Global Immunization News (GIN) March 2014

WHO vaccines and diseases website updated and expanded

We are pleased to announce the update of the Vaccines and diseases section of the Immunization, Vaccines and

Biologicals website. There are 27 disease specific pages that are available including new

pages on varicella, yellow fever, hepatitis A, B & E. WHO position papers on immuniza-

tion and the WHO recommendations for routine immunization - summary tables can be

easily accessed from the main page. In addition the most recently published WHO posi-

tion paper on immunization is highlighted.

For each disease or pathogen, summary information is provided on transmission, disease

manifestations, available prequalified vaccines or status of vaccine development, most

important ongoing research, WHO policy recommendations, disease burden surveil-

lance, together with other key resources.

Check out the Vaccines and diseases page for more information.

Supervisor Meeting on New Vaccine Surveillance

Lucia Oliveira, Gloria Rey and Jennifer Sanwogou

Location: Washington, DC

Date: 11-13 March 2014

Participants: Lucia Oliveira (Regional Advisor on New Vaccines), Gloria Rey (Regional Advisor on VPD Labor-

atory), Jennifer Sanwogou (Surveillance Specialist) and five PAHO consultants.

Purpose: To improve the quality of sentinel surveillance data for rotavirus and invasive bacterial infections

in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Details: In September 2013, a WHO Strategic Review meeting of the WHO-coordinated global invasive

bacterial vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) and rotavirus sentinel surveillance networks took

place with the objectives of: 1) critically assessing the current invasive bacterial VPDs and rota-

virus surveillance network and 2) providing conclusions and recommendations for the future vi-

sion for the network. One of the main conclusions and recommendations of the review was the urgent need to im-

prove the surveillance data quality for both invasive bacterial VPDs and rotavirus in a smaller

number of sentinel sites. Following these recommendations, and with the objective of improving the quality of sentinel

hospital-based surveillance data in Latin America and the Caribbean, from 11 to 13 March 2014,

PAHO organized a meeting for a small working-group on supervision. The participants included five experts in epidemiology and/or laboratory activities who worked

together to develop a supervisory guide to be used in sentinel sites in the Region. This guide in-

cludes all the new criteria to be evaluated. With this new guide, consultants will be visiting sentinel sites in the Region throughout the rest of

2014. The team from the sentinel site with the most improved data quality will receive an award from

PAHO at the next Global New Vaccines Surveillance meeting in 2015.

Resources

Page 8

Global Immunization News (GIN) March 2014

Increased investment in vaccines key to reducing sexually transmitted infections

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a massive health challenge with more

than a million new infections occurring every day.

Increased investment in research and development for new vaccines is key to

halting the spread of genital herpes, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, syphilis, and tricho-

moniasis, according to a new special issue of the journal Vaccine, co-edited by

WHO and the United States’ National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseas-

es (NIAID), National Institute of Health (NIH).

Access to Vaccine Special Issue

Need for STIs vaccine

Update of the Summary Tables of WHO Routine Immunization

Recommendations

The Summary Tables of WHO Routine Immunization Recommendations have been updated to reflect the recom-

mendations of two new WHO Vaccine Position Papers: (i) Polio (Feb 2014) and (ii) Hib (Sept 2013). Additionally,

there is a new Summary Table #4 on WHO Recommendations on Healthcare Worker vaccination.

The latest versions of the Summary Tables available in both FRENCH and ENGLISH can be downloaded from the

WHO website.

The User's Guide to the Summary Tables has been developed as a companion piece to help orientate users of

the summary tables.

What are the purposes of this guide?

To raise awareness that the full spectrum of WHO recommendations for routine immunization are available in two

summary tables.

To explain how the summary tables can be used at country level to review and possibly modify a national immun-

ization schedule so that it has greater impact and efficiency.

To highlight practical and operational issues that country decision-makers should consider when making a change

to the national immunization schedule.

Communication sur le vaccin contre le PVH: Considérations particulières pour un

vaccin unique

Ce rapport présente des orientations en matière de communication et certaines considérations à

l’intention des pays qui prévoient d’introduire le vaccin contre le papillomavirus humain (PVH)

dans leur programme national de vaccination. Ce vaccin présente de grandes opportunités pour

prévenir le cancer du col de l’utérus. À la fin de 2012, plus d’une quarantaine de pays avaient in-

tégré ce vaccin dans leurs programmes nationaux de vaccination et de nombreux autres pays pré-

voient de le faire.

Modèles de liste de contrôle pour l’introduction d’un nouveau vaccin et de liste et

calendrier des activités relatives à l’introduction d’un nouveau vaccin

L’OMS a conçu des modèles généraux pour aider les pays à établir leurs propres listes de contrôle, listes d’activités

et calendriers concernant l’introduction de nouveaux vaccins. Ces modèles visent à fournir des suggestions de do-

maines clés à traiter, et en tant que tels, peuvent ne pas comporter certains éléments importants pour un pays donné

ou pour l’introduction d’un vaccin spécifique ; ils peuvent également comprendre des éléments qui ne sont pas néces-

saires. Les listes de contrôle, listes d’activités et calendriers concernant l’introduction de nouveaux vaccins devront

être adaptées en conséquence pour chaque pays. Les modèles, au format Excel, sont accessibles à cette adresse.

Page 9

Global Immunization News (GIN) March 2014

New information resources available to support the introduction of inactivated

poliomyelitis vaccine Dalia Lourenco Levin, WHO HQ

Since mid-April 2013, core partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and the GAVI Alliance have been

focusing efforts on objective two of the Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 2013–2018 (Endgame Plan),

coordinated through the Immunization Systems Management Group (IMG).

Under objective 2, the IMG aims to ensure that in preparation for

the removal of type 2 OPV (trivalent OPV to bivalent OPV switch),

inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) introduction is achieved in the con-

text of existing plans to add any other new vaccines.

To help support planning for IPV introduction, a dedicated web

page has been launched, offering a comprehensive range of infor-

mation resources to countries and partners, e.g. an overview brief,

frequently asked questions (FAQs), general and technical Power-

points, IPV pricing details, and the new WHO Position Paper on

polio.

Also available on the web page is an information kit developed spe-

cifically to facilitate country decision making and planning with regard to IPV introduction. The kit is aimed at na-

tional advisory bodies, including National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs), but potentially has

a broader application to informing any national-level dialogue around IPV, both from a programmatic and policy

perspective.

In addition to the above-mentioned information resources, the kit includes a manual for introducing IPV into rou-

tine schedules, relevant country case studies, peer-review publications, systems cost estimates and background

papers to SAGE meetings from 2012 and 2013.

All information resources, including the NITAG kit, can be accessed on the IPV Introduction, OPV Withdrawal

and Routine Immunization Strengthening website.

Please send any questions in relation to these materials.

Introduction des vaccins antirotavirus - Informations à l'intention des décideurs,

des administrateurs de programmes et des agents de santé (WHO/IVB/13.08F) (French version of the original document WHO/IVB/13.08)

L’OMS recommande l’intégration des vaccins antirotavirus dans tous les programmes nationaux

de vaccination. Ces vaccins devraient être considérés comme prioritaires, en particulier dans

les pays ayant des taux de mortalité par gastroentérite à rotavirus (GERV) élevés, comme en

Asie du Sud et du Sud-Est, ainsi qu’en Afrique subsaharienne. Pour que les vaccins antirotavirus

aient un maximum d’effet, il est important d’élaborer un plan d’introduction complet et réaliste.

Dans ce document figurent des informations et des conseils pour aider les responsables na-

tionaux à réfléchir à tous les préparatifs opérationnels qui devraient être intégrés dans un plan

d’introduction du vaccin antirotavirus, une fois que la décision d’introduire le vaccin a été prise; et des infor-

mations techniques majeures et des références à jour pour aider les directeurs de programmes et les agents de

santé à intégrer avec succès le vaccin antirotavirus au programme national de vaccination.

Page 10

Page 11

Calendar

Global Immunization News (GIN) March 2014

2014

April

1-3 Strategic Advisory Group of Experts Geneva, Switzerland

7-10 Workshop on Strengthening Immunization Financing Tunisia

08-09 East and Southern African GAVI Sub-Regional Working Group meeting Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

22-24 SEARO Regional Meeting on Strategic framework for IPV introduction New Delhi, India

23-30 World Immunization Week Global

29-30 Global Measles and Rubella Management Meeting Geneva, Switzerland

May

12-16 Regional measles and rubella lab network training Muscat, Oman

19-24 67th World Health Assembly Geneva, Switzerland

20-22 Expert consultation on accelerated control of Japanese encephalitis in the Western Pacific Re-

gion

Manila, Philippines

27-29 Bi-regional meeting on prevention and control of Japanese Encephalitis New Delhi, India

June

3-5 Third Workshop for NRAs for Vaccines in Western Pacific Manila, Philippines

9-13 WHO Regional Focal Points and Consultants meeting on Immunization Financing Geneva, Switzerland

9-20 Consultant training workshop on measles & rubella surveillance review and measles elimination

validation

Cairo, Egypt

11-13 Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (IPAC) Geneva, Switzerland

12-13 8th African Rotavirus Symposium Livingstone, Zambia

16-18 Combined SubRegional Committees for the Certification of Polio Eradication and Verification

of Measles Elimination in the Pacific

TBD

18-19 GAVI Board Meeting Geneva, Switzerland

23-25 Global Polio Management Team meeting Geneva, Switzerland

July

14-18 SEARO Immunization Technical Advisory Group Meeting Colombo, Sri Lanka

September

3-5 11th International Rotavirus Symposium New Delhi, India

8-12 SEARO Regional Committee meeting New Delhi, India

22-24 Global Measles Rubella Laboratory Meeting Istanbul, Turkey

29-2 PAHO’s Directing Council Washington DC, USA

Page 12

Calendar

Global Immunization News (GIN) March 2014

October

13-17 Regional workshop on surveillance for new vaccine-preventable diseases Manila, Philippines

27-29 DCVMN Annual General meeting Asia

November

17-20 EMRO Expanded Programme on Immunization Managers meeting Amman, Jordan

22-25 Intercountry Meeting on Measles and Rubella Amman, Jordan

December

8-12 Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Laboratory Network Meeting Manila, Philippines

9-10 SEAR Regional Working Group on New Vaccine Introduction and HSS Myanmar

Page 13

WHO Regional Websites Routine Immunization and New Vaccines (AFRO)

Immunization (PAHO)

Vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization (EMRO)

Vaccines and immunization (EURO)

Immunization (SEARO)

Immunization (WPRO)

Newsletters Immunization Newsletter (PAHO) The Civil Society Dose (GAVI CSO Constituency) TechNet Digest RotaFlash (PATH) GAVI Programme Bulletin (GAVI)

Organizations and Initiatives American Red Cross Child Survival Agence de Médecine Préventive Africhol EpiVacPlus LOGIVAC Project SIVAC 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 PAHO ProVac Initiative PATH Vaccine Resource Library Rotavirus Vaccine Access and Delivery Malaria Vaccine Initiative Meningitis Vaccine Project RHO Cervical Cancer

Sabin Vaccine Institute Sustainable Immunization Financing UNICEF Immunization Supplies and Logistics 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 Other Coalition Against Typhoid Dengue Vaccine Initiative European Vaccine Initiative Gardasil Access Program GAVI Alliance International Association of Public Health Logisticians International Vaccine Institute Measles & Rubella Initiative Multinational Influenza Seasonal Mortality Study TechNet-21 Vaccines Today

UNICEF Regional Websites 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)

Links

Global Immunization News (GIN) March 2014