Recently, I was sitting with the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) Manager, his senior staff, and technical assistance (TA) partners in an African country, discussing support for better visibility and analysis of immunization supply chain data. The EPI Manager was willing to listen, but wasn’...

The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on immunization (SAGE) convened by WHO on 20 October 2015 has confirmed that the globally coordinated withdrawal of the type 2 component in the oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) will take place in April 2016. SAGE’s landmark decision follows the endorsement by th...

Supply chains play a critical role in improving health, saving lives, and reducing under-five mortality. After all, as I've heard several logisticians say, "if you have no product, you have no program." And it is true, especially in a field like immunization. If you can't get vaccines to the hospita...

Dear all India is committed. Eradicated polio; achieved ~65% Full Immunization Coverage by 2013-14, aims to achieve >90% by 2020 through Mission Indradhanush (MI). MI districts are on war foot and in mission mode to achieve the objectives. Service providers from the government, ANMs/AWWs/ASHAs/USHA...

PtD is very pleased to share the newly published 'PtD Namibia Synthesis Report' with members of TechNet-21. In November 2013, the Minister of Health presented a formal request to the People that Deliver (PtD) Board and member institutions for technical support to develop a sustainable strategy t...

Hi all, I just wrote a blog on PATH's DefeatDD.org called "Getting to 'Mars' with immunization delivery," which I thought might be of interest! I really enjoyed the recent blockbuster movie,The Martian. Andas a vaccine advocate supporting PATH's advocacy for stronger immunization supply chains pro...

The V3P project aims at collecting, publishing and analysing vaccine product and price information. This year, 40 countries have shared data with V3P. Combining information shared by countries, PAHO and UNICEF, the database provides price information on more than 170 vaccines. If you wonder about t...

WHO recommends 2 temperature ranges for keeping all vaccines at health facilities (+2C +8C) and (-15C -25C) for OPV above district level. The rationale for using first range is explained in “Thermostability of vaccines”. What is the reason for use of second range (-15C -25C) for OPV and some freez...

In a new article on the RBFHealth blog, Brian Serumaga, supply chain technical advisor with the USAID | DELIVER PROJECT, discusses the role of the central medical store in strengthening the performance of health supply chains and the findings of a recent results-based financing pilot in Mozambique. ...

These are the conclusions from the recent study in 4 Gavi countries (attached). Are you convinced by these findings?...

Below are some examples of how an MKT thermometer could be used to to simpllfy temperature data analysis for the cold chain. If the temperature in a refrigerator is 4 deg C for 20 hours then increases to 15 deg C for 4 hours, how will the vaccine life be affected? - If this is a one day occurrence...

Announcing two new publications, part of the Vaccine Management Handbook series: How to monitor temperatures in the vaccine supply chain (WHO/IVB/15.04) http://www.who.int/immunization/documents/financing/who_ivb_15.04 How to use passive containers and coolant-packs for vaccine transport and o...

Dear Colleagues, Many of the prequalified refrigerators have integrated digital thermometers with digital display outside showing instantaneous temperature readings. During the field visits, I have started to notice considerable number of refrigerators with non-functioning digital display. I am ...

Thirty countries have now introduced IPV vaccine as part of objective 2 of the Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan. In August, the second of the polio endemic countries, Pakistan, introduced IPV nationally. There are now 30 countries that have introduced the vaccine. Nigeria, the other ende...

Dear viewers We wish to share the PPT on “COMBOCARD” – an outcome of interaction with many RI players; presented in the regular monthly Academic Clinical Society Meeting held on 26th Aug 2015 in KVG Medical College Hospital for further inputs and dissemination please. For achieving the object...

Background: Rabies is a dreaded disease and an estimated 55,000 people die of rabies every year. Himachal Pradesh is in the North bordering China and is predominantly rural and hilly. Villages are near forests, where wild reservoirs of rabies exist. Since health facilities are not accessible easily,...

Dear Technet21 Members, I would like to take the opportunity to introduce a new course to you. ‘Managing Human Resources in Health and Humanitarian Supply Chains: Strategies, Tools and Techniques’. This course will be offered by Pamela Steele Associates (PSA) in Oxford, 30th November and 4th Dec...

While stethoscope, knee-hammer, tuning fork and the like help in making bedside diagnosis in clinical medicine; Public health uses well designed, field tested forms / formats and tools for: 1) Collecting adequate data for obtaining meaningful “information” 2) Obtaining required indicators for pe...

Choices, choices, choices – they are both the bane and blessing of our times. As immunization managers, we now have a wide array of PQS-prequalified cold chain equipment to choose from, but how do we make the right choices and get the best value for our bucks? The TechNet Product Reviews area helps ...

People who delay or refuse vaccines for themselves or their children are presenting a growing challenge for countries seeking to close the immunization gap. Globally, 1 in 5 children still do not receive routine life-saving immunizations, and an estimated 1.5 million children still die each year of ...