Tania Cernuschi

We must do more to make sure everyone has access to essential health services. Investing in #immunization can help strengthen health systems and advance #UHC. #ProtectedTogether #VaccinesWork

I’m sharing the good news from this week’s meeting of the Pan-African Parliamentarians (PAP) and AFRO to advance the dialogue and commitments on the implementation of the African Union AU Declaration on Universal Access to Immunization.

http://www.panafricanparliament.org/index.php/news-and-events/47-global-health-coverage-immunization-and-albinism-take-priority-at-pap-session

This is (almost to the day) a year after launching the Immunization Business Case for the African Continent at the World Health Assembly (WHA71) by the DG (Dr Tedros) and AFRO RD (Dr Moeti). This is another big milestone as Parliamentarians will have a critical role to play in holding our Member States accountable for immunization outcomes. Getting their commitment is key to implementing the Addis Declaration on Immunization and the broader Immunization Agenda 2030!

Hello, please check out recent feedback from the Immunization and vaccines related implementation research advisory committee (IVIR-AC) on the newly-launched WHO Market Information for Access Initiative (MI4A) and methodology:

"The initiative is providing a valuable public good that could shape markets and ultimately save lives if greater transparency and less information asymmetry generally lead to more efficient markets."

View the full IVIR-AC recommendations in the current edition of WHO's Weekly Epidemiological Record:

https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/312312/WER9419.pdf

MI4A provides a unique global perspective on vaccine markets, covering all countries and vaccines with objectives to:

• Enhance the understanding of global vaccine demand, supply and pricing dynamics and identifying affordability and shortage risks;
• Convene all relevant global health partners to contribute to the development of policies, strategies, and guidance to address the identified risks;
• Strengthen national and regional capacity for improved access to vaccines supply.

For more information on MI4A please see:

www.who.int/immunization/MI4A

Tania

Hello!

We are happy to announce the release of the WHO Vaccine Wastage Rates Calculator. It can be downloaded from the WHO website at the following link:

https://www.who.int/immunization/programmes_systems/supply_chain/resources/tools/en/

It is the culmination of many years of efforts to provide a rational guidance on vaccine wastage estimation.  As you know, wastage is an important parameter for vaccine forecasting needs and remain a sensitive indicator for vaccine utilization.  Therefore, wastage could impact both the immunization programme cost, coverage and equity.

In 2002, WHO issued global indicative vaccine wastage rates to be used by countries in absence of national data. Nevertheless, they remain generic with significant limitations since they were not necessarily reflecting each specific vaccine service delivery setting. The new WHO Vaccine Wastage Rates Calculator was developed in response to these limitations. The development was supported by a WHO model based on binomial statistics, endorsed by the WHO’s Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (IPAC).

The calculator will provide more precise vaccine wastage rates to support:

• EPI managers at country level, to provide accurate annual vaccine forecast, reducing stock out and over stocks; to adapt vaccine product presentation to country context; to reduce missed opportunities; finally, to improve coverage and equity;
• Partners at the global level, to improve predictable global demand and avoid global shortages.

We would like to thank all individuals and partners who contributed greatly to the development of this new WHO Vaccine Wastage Rates Calculator.

We welcome any suggestions and feedback from users that can help to further improve it!

Best,

Tania Cernuschi

Group Manager - Supply, Technologies, and Financing 

Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) | Dept of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals (IVB) 

World Health Organization (WHO)