Global Immunization News 29 February 2012
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Global Immunization News 29 February 2012 World Health Organization Global Immunization News Inside this issue: Technical Information Intensification of Vaccination Activities in the 2 Context of Strengthening the Routine Immunization Programme, Haiti 2012 CONGO REPUBLIC: A TRANSITION PLAN FOR A SUCCESSFUL GRADUATION? Introduction of Haemophilus influenzae type 2 B and Rotavirus vaccines in Expanded 29/02/2012 from Miloud Kaddar, WHO-HQ WHO round-table meeting on Uniject 3 A joint mission including WHO, GAVI secretariat and Immunization Financing Indicators from the 3 Sabin Vaccine Institute was conducted in February in WHO/UNICEF Joint Reporting Form (JRF) the Republic of Congo to assess the immunization Doubling our Impact in a Single Shot 4 financing situation and to develop a transition to assist Strategic Advisory Group of Experts meeting 4 in successfully graduating from GAVI support in 2015- 2017. The framework developed by WHO in close Pneumococcal and Rotavirus Vaccines 5 collaboration with the Immunization Financing and Training Materials provided by WHO Sustainability Task Team (IFSTT) was tested and used Progress Report: Next Generation Typhoid 5 with the assistance of the Results for Development Conjugate Vaccines Institute. GAVI Related Information 6 With financial support from GAVI, Congo has been AFRICA Annual Meeting of the EPI managers in 7 able to introduce under-used vaccines (yellow fever, EPI staff from WHO and UNICEF in Congo, and Central Africa hepatitis B, Hib) within its Expanded Programme on members of the joint mission WHO, GAVI Secre- West and Central African countries tariat and Sabin Vaccine Institute. 7 Immunization (EPI) and is considering introducing increasing ownership of their immunization programmes pneumococcal and rotavirus vaccines in 2012 and 2013, respectively. Congo transitioned into the Findings from the Post Introduction 8 middle-income country category and has seen its total government budget and national income grow Evaluation of PCV 13 in Sierra Leone EPI Review in Liberia significantly (GNI per capita in 2000: 843 USD, GNI per capita in 2010-11 more than 3,000 USD). Third EPIVAC Technical Conference on 9 These growth rates nevertheless remain fragile (depending heavily on the international oil market) immunization financing at district and and did not translate directly into a solid health and immunization system. In 2010-2011 the country country level in sub-Saharan Africa experienced a large polio outbreak, as well as outbreaks of measles, cholera, and Chikungunya, AMERICAN REGION revealing the fragility of country health conditions and the limitations of the current health system. ProVac Visit to Peru and El Salvador: A 9 Launch and a Closing of a Pneumococcal Congo is one of the few countries to fully finance its routine EPI vaccines, operational costs and Conjugated Vaccine (PCV) Cost- GAVI co-financing requirement with domestic resources. However, the challenges ahead are quite effectiveness Analysis large. For example, the country co-payment for the GAVI supported vaccines will jump from USD SOUTH EAST ASIA 77,883 in 2011 to USD 500,562 in 2012 and USD 3,222,500 in 2015. Planning and budgetary Joint Measles Review Mission present 10 procedures remain quite heavy and uncoordinated leading to delays in allocation, disbursement and Recommendations to Minister of Health of Indonesia payment. WESTERN PACIFIC The year 2012 was declared the “Year of Health” by the Government of Congo, the projected Training workshop on adverse events fol- 11 lowing immunization (AEFI) and data man- economic growth is positive, the national commitments and political will in favour of immunization agement for Pacific Island Countries and and vaccines seem high. The collaboration between the Ministry of Health (MoH), EPI team and Areas China Polio Laboratory Network Workshop 11 UNICEF and WHO country offices is impressive and effective. The mission met with all concerned to introduce the new algorithm for virus parties and agreed with MoH and EPI representatives on the practical short and medium term isolation and to conduct biosafety aware- ness training, Kunming China decisions, on activities and steps to enhance country ownership and to engage the Republic of Congo with a trajectory towards financial sustainability. The objective can be met with the agreed Regional Meetings & Key Events 11- 13 transition plan; the challenge is its implementation and close monitoring. Related Links 14 For more information, contact Miloud Kaddar. Global Immunization News Technical Information INTENSIFICATION OF VACCINATION ACTIVITIES IN THE CONTEXT OF STRENGTHENING THE ROUTINE IMMUNIZATION PROGRAMME, HAITI 2012 29/02/2012 from the PAHO team in Haiti Haiti’s Ministry of Public Health and Population is working to implement intensified vaccination activities nationwide “Immunizing in in 2012. The country will implement a first round of vaccination using measles-rubella vaccine (MR) and the Oral the context of Polio Vaccine (OPV) for children aged <= nine years (Nine months to nine years for MR) in April 2012 and a second global vaccination round using polio (and Tetanus and Diphtheria (Td) vaccine for the elimination of neonatal tetanus) at independence” least one month after finishing the first round. Vitamin A supplements and deworming will be integrated. These supplementary immunization activities (SIA) represent a unique opportunity to strengthen Haiti’s regular immunization programme, while achieving a rapid increase in vaccination coverage against polio, measles and rubella. This SIA will ensure that the country remains free of these diseases and that it can complete the process of documentation and verification of the elimination of measles and rubella in the context of the Regional Initiative towards this goal. The first round of vaccination in Haiti will include active community case-searches for polio, measles and rubella. Retrospective facility-based case searches for the same conditions, in addition to congenital rubella syndrome, will be conducted around the same time-period. Achieving the two goals of the intensified vaccination activities – 1) strengthening the regular programme and 2) maintaining the country free of polio, measles and rubella – is essential for Haiti’s immunization programme. After the intensification, there will be an independent survey to verify the results. The success of this vaccination is also a condition for the Region of the Americas to move forward with the process of the regional documentation of the elimination of measles/rubella. The information contained in this PAHO’s Director, Dr Mirta Roses, will accompany the April 2012 SIA and plans to launch the Tenth Vaccination Newsletter de- Week in the Americas (and First World Vaccination Week) in Port-au-Prince on 21 April 2012. pends upon your INTRODUCTION OF HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE TYPE B AND ROTAVIRUS VACCINES contributions IN EXPANDED PROGRAMME ON IMMUNIZATION IN IRAQ Please send inputs 29/02/2012 from Ruba Hikmat, WHO Iraq for inclusion to: The ministry of health, Iraq has introduced Haemophilus influenzae type B and [email protected] Rotavirus vaccine in national immunization schedule from January 2012. These vaccines along with the other vaccines are now available for the target children at all health care centres, basic health units and state-run hospitals, free of charge. H.E. Dr Majeed Hamad Amin, the Minister of Health (MoH) of Iraq, while addressing a press conference in connection with the launch of the Haemophilus influenzae type B and rotavirus vaccines said that these vaccines will protect thousands of infants in Iraq against the most dangerous childhood infections, including the major causes of diarrhoea and the major causes of pneumonia, and meningitis, known to lead to severe “Integrating neurological disabilities. In 2011, 46% of severe diarrhoea cases were reported Immunization, as a result of rotavirus, the second cause of death among infants in Iraq. H.E Photo Credit: Ministry of Health other linked reinforced the Ministry’s commitment to achieve Millennium Development Goal 4, which aims to reduce child deaths health by two-thirds by 2015. interventions Speaking on the occasion, Dr Syed Jaffar Hussain, the WHO Representative in and surveillance Iraq, said that millions of cases of disease and thousands of deaths in children can in the health be prevented each year through the introduction of these two very safe and systems effective vaccines on the national immunization schedule. He reiterated that context” WHO is working closely with MoH to ensure smooth introduction of a pneumococcal vaccine by 2013, monitor implementation, evaluate impact, calculate vaccine supplies, and manage the cold chain. Mr Osama Makkawi, UNICEF’s Deputy Representative in Iraq termed the introduction of the new vaccines as an important step toward the best start of life for the children of Iraq. He informed that UNICEF will embark with the Ministry of Health on an Photo Credit: Ministry of Health extensive community mobilization campaign to ensure that parents are aware of the importance of the new vaccines and the new vaccination schedule. Dr Omar Mekki, Medical Officer and EPI Programme manager at the WHO Iraq office stressed on the importance of assuring a sustainable supply of safe and effective vaccines at affordable prices for Iraqi children and said “strengthening procurement systems and management processes at the province and district levels in addition to Page 2 empowering the role of media will not only