That's a wrap!
The 16th TechNet Conference took place online on October 20-21, 2020. Sessions were organised into four key themes: ISC strategies, Covid-19, Effective vaccine management, and Cold chain equipment.
This page provides a list of important conference resources: the full program with details of all presenters, video recordings of presentations, and presentation slides. You can also browse and download all presentation slides on Dropbox.
TechNet Conference 2020
09:00-09:30
ISC STRATEGIES
An introduction to VIPS: outcomes of the prioritization process and next steps
The Vaccine Innovation Prioritisation Strategy (VIPS) represents an unprecedented three-year collaboration between the Gavi Secretariat, World Health Organization (WHO), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and PATH – known as the VIPS Alliance - to develop a single integrated framework to evaluate and prioritise innovations in vaccine product delivery that meet country needs. The goal of VIPS is to provide greater clarity to manufacturers and partners to inform and influence investment decisions, and to drive these innovations forward. This presentation will discuss the prioritisation process, the 3 prioritised innovations / approaches and the proposed next steps to advance them.
09:30-10:00
ISC STRATEGIES
How, where and when are we going to use microarray patches to deliver measles and rubella vaccines?
Measles and rubella vaccines are safe and effective, however, achieving equitable coverage, particularly for the second dose of measles containing vaccine (MCV2) is well below the 95% target of immunized children. Consequently, there were over 140,000 deaths globally, in 2018. Novel and improved vaccine delivery platforms such as microarray patches (MAPs) are needed to address the increasing challenge of achieving and sustaining effective vaccination of MRVs, to achieve the eradication of measles and rubella, a goal set by the WHO and partners. MAPs offer competitive advantages over needle and syringe (NS) vaccine delivery. They have a potential to be more thermostable and freeze resistant, do not require reconstitution resulting in an improved safety profile, they are easier to use, do not contain sharps, and are more acceptable by caregivers and vaccinees. Measles and rubella MAPs (MR-MAPs) will soon enter phase one clinical trials and although early in development, critical actions are needed to prepare the pathway for late stage product development and mitigate against delays in scale up. The lack of a clear demand forecast for MR-MAP has been identified as significant bottleneck in the investment of this urgently needed innovative vaccine. In order to address this, the WHO is working with public health stakeholders at the country level to assess how MR-MAPs will be used, the critical product attributes that are required for use to achieve impact, and the potential demand for such products.
10:00-10:30
ISC STRATEGIES
The cost-effectiveness of delivering vaccines through a controlled temperature chain (CTC)
How much more are we willing to pay for a vaccine that can be used outside of the cold chain? Are the trade-offs of paying more for a CTC-qualified vaccine worthwhile? How and when is CTC a good investment for national immunization programs? This presentation will address these questions, presenting the key economic arguments in favour of CTC implementation from a country perspective.
10:30-11:00
COVID-19
OpenLMIS COVID edition to support supply chains during COVID
End visibility of logistic data is a key factor for ensuring products availability to our communities. During this session, we will look at the latest OpenLMIS CoVID edition as a rapid adaptation of a global good to support supply chains during COVID.
11:00-11:30
COVID-19
Interoperability of data management system to support COVID response in Malawi
Data management systems are key for providing logistic data end to end visibility but only if they “talk” to each other. During this session, we will explore how the Government of Malawi is using Chipatala cha pa Foni Hotline Data to Inform COVID-19 related Decision-Making.
11:30-12:00
COVID-19
CHW PPE effort in Liberia - lessons learned about trying to get visibility and data use during a crisis
During this session, we will hear how the Government of Liberia with technical assistance from the VillageReach team developed a dashboard to visualize PPE Stock in order to inform decision makers. We will hear lots of lessons learned about trying to get visibility and data use during a crisis.
12:00-15:00
Break
15:00-16:00
Plenary: Conference opening
Day one of the 16th TechNet Conference opens with a focus on immunization supply chain strategies and the Covid-19 response.
Welcome
Opening remarks
Building resilience in the ‘global South’: A message from Senegal
Ensuring that countries are ready for a Covid-19 vaccine
Innovating to minimize the impact of COVID-19: A message from the winner of the Oman Youth Covid-19 Innovation Challenge
The global pandemic has been a rallying call for youth innovators and entrepreneurs across the world. Young people are eager to contribute their talents and passion to helping those in need, and making societies more resilient. Saada Al Salti is team lead of Team Teryaq – the winners of the Oman Youth Covid-19 Innovation Challenge. It was held in June with support from the Oman Technology Fund and Unicef, to engage young local innovators and startups with the goal of creating solutions for health and education sectors that are rooted in technology.
16:00-17:00
ISC STRATEGIES
The future of countries’ cold chain systems: Achieving cost-efficiency in managing storage of primary health care commodities
The demand for cold chain storage has increased as more temperature-sensitive health products become available for primary health care service delivery. What could be the practical solution to safely manage the storage and transport of these products without causing too much burden on the cold chain? Learn from countries achieving supply chain efficiency through an integrated approach.
COVID-19
Private sector engagement for COVAX
During the session, we will not only learn about how UPS is currently contributing to making the global, regional and local supply chains capable and ready to deliver future Covid19 vaccines, but also discuss the future of logistics where the regional and local private sector would play a bigger role.
ISC STRATEGIES
ISC leadership & governance at country level
COVID-19 pandemic has provided countries with the challenges but also opportunities to innovate for better coordinating national and sub-national immunization supply chains and for mitigating immunization services disruptions. With the forthcoming COVID-19 mass vaccination, the NLWGs will play a critical role in preparing and coordinating one of the biggest logistic operations of the Century: delivering millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses and other ancillary products while maintaining the other essential immunization services. This interactive session will share experiences from selected countries on the role the NLWGs have played in maintaining immunization services amidst COVID-19 challenges and in building immunization supply chain resilience for current future vaccination strategies including country ISC preparedness for COVID-19 vaccine operations.
17:00-18:00
COVID-19
Reaching Covid-19 vaccine priority target groups
This session will investigate the ways in which national immunization programs can reach particular Covid-19 vaccine target groups, such as healthcare workers and the elderly. While most of the countries have conducted multiple mass vaccination campaign for infants and adolescents, many other may not have yet developed adequate experience vaccinating the elderly. We have conveyed a panel of global and regional supply chain experts from WHO and UNICEF to discuss strategies for adapting existing practices to ensure that the future requirements of immunizing target groups with a new Covid-19 vaccine can be met. We will be presenting perspectives from two regions: Europe and Africa.
ISC STRATEGIES
Capacity development with sustainable impact
The COVID-19 pandemic has made evident the need to move from internationally-dependent TA towards a continuous and sustainable capacity development approach. The increasing complexities of the supply chains merit more distributed TA models that can be implemented by a network of national institutions, such as, government agencies, academic institutions, vocational training centres, private companies and NGOs. New EVM2 functionalities enable its use as a continuous capacity development delivery mechanism addressing equity gaps of the ISCM workforce at subnational level, thus making EVM2 a tool for measurement of TA delivery effectiveness.
ISC STRATEGIES
Immunization supply chain interventions that enable coverage and equity and contribute to resilient systems
As the impact of COVID-19 continues to disrupt immunisation services, reaching underserved communities and zero dose children has become more critical than ever. In a bid to assist countries with practical solutions to reach these children through necessary adaptations in iSC interventions, this session looks at the ERG-identified challenges in the diverse settings of Remote rural, Urban poor and Conflict areas and then identifies the most likely immunization program operational strategies to overcome these challenges. Each of these operational strategies and adaptations are discussed in terms of the iSC implications, challenges and opportunities. Michelle Seidel from UNICEF HQ introduces the topic and provides some context to the challenges. Her presentation is followed by practical country strategies in Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan jointly presented by MoH and UNICEF.
18:00-18:30
Plenary: TechNet-21 & the Partnernship of Immunization Networks (PIN)
TechNet-21 is a member of the Partnership of Immunization Networks (PIN), which has been created to strengthen collaboration between organizations that serve distinct yet interconnected online communities of immunization professionals. The PIN provides a convening mechanism for member organizations to better meet the needs of their respective communities, with the goal of enabling immunization professionals to strengthen immunization services – and thereby vaccination coverage rates – around the world. In this closing plenary session of Day one, we will hear from the different members of the PIN and learn about the services they provide.
18:30-19:30
PIN Marketplace
An opportunity to meet the teams behind the organizations represented in the Partnernship of Immunization Networks (PIN). Each organization will have their own breakout room to present their network and answer questions from participants.
19:30-20:00
ISC STRATEGIES
An introduction to VIPS: outcomes of the prioritization process and next steps
The Vaccine Innovation Prioritisation Strategy (VIPS) represents an unprecedented three-year collaboration between the Gavi Secretariat, World Health Organization (WHO), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and PATH – known as the VIPS Alliance - to develop a single integrated framework to evaluate and prioritise innovations in vaccine product delivery that meet country needs. The goal of VIPS is to provide greater clarity to manufacturers and partners to inform and influence investment decisions, and to drive these innovations forward. This presentation will discuss the prioritisation process, the 3 prioritised innovations / approaches and the proposed next steps to advance them.
20:00-20:30
ISC STRATEGIES
How, where and when are we going to use microarray patches to deliver measles and rubella vaccines?
Measles and rubella vaccines are safe and effective, however, achieving equitable coverage, particularly for the second dose of measles containing vaccine (MCV2) is well below the 95% target of immunized children. Consequently, there were over 140,000 deaths globally, in 2018. Novel and improved vaccine delivery platforms such as microarray patches (MAPs) are needed to address the increasing challenge of achieving and sustaining effective vaccination of MRVs, to achieve the eradication of measles and rubella, a goal set by the WHO and partners. MAPs offer competitive advantages over needle and syringe (NS) vaccine delivery. They have a potential to be more thermostable and freeze resistant, do not require reconstitution resulting in an improved safety profile, they are easier to use, do not contain sharps, and are more acceptable by caregivers and vaccinees. Measles and rubella MAPs (MR-MAPs) will soon enter phase one clinical trials and although early in development, critical actions are needed to prepare the pathway for late stage product development and mitigate against delays in scale up. The lack of a clear demand forecast for MR-MAP has been identified as significant bottleneck in the investment of this urgently needed innovative vaccine. In order to address this, the WHO is working with public health stakeholders at the country level to assess how MR-MAPs will be used, the critical product attributes that are required for use to achieve impact, and the potential demand for such products.
20:30-21:00
ISC STRATEGIES
The cost-effectiveness of delivering vaccines through a controlled temperature chain (CTC)
How much more are we willing to pay for a vaccine that can be used outside of the cold chain? Are the trade-offs of paying more for a CTC-qualified vaccine worthwhile? How and when is CTC a good investment for national immunization programs? This presentation will address these questions, presenting the key economic arguments in favour of CTC implementation from a country perspective.
21:00-21:30
COVID-19
OpenLMIS COVID edition to support supply chains during COVID
Present on the OpenLMIS CoVID edition as a rapid adaptation of a global good to support supply chains during COVID.
21:30-22:00
COVID-19
Interoperability of data managemernt system to support COVID response in Malawi
Using Chipatala cha pa Foni Hotline Data in Malawi to Inform COVID-19 related Decision-Making
22:00-22:30
COVID-19
CHW PPE effort in Liberia - lessons learned about trying to get visibility and data use during a crisis
CHW PPE effort in Liberia - lessons learned about trying to get visibility and data use during a crisis
VACCINE MANAGEMENT
How changing vial size can improve your immunization services
With COVID demanding smaller session sizes, it is more important than ever to consider smaller vaccine vial size to better tailor to session sizes.This presentation will share results from an implementation study on 5-dose MR in Zambia. Results showed increased coverage for both MR1 and MR2, lower wastage rates, and no cold chain constraints at the facility level. The results are timely and are supported by a guidance document to help decision makers consider the change.
09:30-10:00
ISC STRATAGIES
ISC strategies for catch-up and reducing missed opportunities for vaccination (MOV)
Timely vaccination is important for ensuring populations are fully protected against life-threatening illnesses as early as possible, and preventing large outbreaks of VPDs. Yet, scheduled vaccinations may be missed for a number of reasons, e.g. due to health system, caregiver or health worker related issues. Or in the current context, due to a catastrophic event. However, no one should miss out on the right to the protection that vaccines offer, simply because they are unable to access services in time. Establishing a catch-up vaccination strategy and incorporating approaches to better integrate service delivery and reduce missed opportunities for vaccination are important aspects of immunization system strengthening, and can contribute significantly to closing population immunity gaps.
10:00-10:30
ISC STRATEGIES
Service experience: interlinking supply and demand for immunization
Provision of high quality, people-centered services are key to increasing acceptance and uptake of immunization. Using illustrative examples, we explore the different components which make for quality service experiences that drive demand and uptake of immunization services, and how resource management (including supply) plays a critical role in this delivery model.
10:30-11:00
CCE
Improving cold chain equipment management in Uganda with a data centered approach and ODK-X
UNEPI has piloted the use of ODK-X for CCE management (an open source application) in three districts to improve the visibility and management of cold chain equipment. Join us for a discussion of how the app works, and how it has improved data collection and action for CCE maintenance and management to improve the safe and potent storage of life saving vaccines.
11:00-11:30
CCE
Gavi and UNICEF - CCEOP, IMPT and procurement updates.
Representatives from Gavi and UNICEF Supply Division and Programme Division provide procurement and implementation updates on the Cold Chain Equipment Optimization Platform (CCEOP) and the Intelligent Maintenance and Planning Tool (IMPT). The session will also explore areas under consideration in the next Gavi strategic period 2021-2025 and solicit feedback from stakeholders.
11:30-12:00
CCE
Temperature monitoring and performance management of cold chain equipment– two complementary approaches
This sessions shares two presentations discussing the importance of temperature monitoring of cold chain equipment and the impact of the data generated from temperature monitoring activities. The first presentation is about the Varo app which allows direct download and emailing of FridgeTag 2 data in Kenya and Nigeria. The second presentation is about remote temperature monitoring experiences with Nexleaf in Tanzania.
12:00-15:00
Break
Plenary: Conference re-opening
Day two of the 16th TechNet Conference opens with a focus on vaccine management and cold chain equipment (CCE).
The impact of Covid-19 on immunization services and guiding principles for immunization activities during severe disruptions
Love in the time of COVID: How can resilient supply chains save health systems in the long term?
This presentation highlights the critical role of supply chains in building resilient health systems, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and provides some suggestions for tactical steps that decision makers can take to position the supply chains for success in the long term.
Building resilience in a fast changing world
Sharing relevant private sector experience around resilience and different ways of problem solving!
16:00-17:00
VACCINE MANAGEMENT
Data use for supply chain management: From zero to hero
Data is an important aspect of any immunization program that extends beyond the data management system to include the important aspect of data use for decision making. This session will present guidance for data triangulation developed by CDC and WHO; a practical tool for triangulating data developed by JSI in Ethiopia; and best practices of data review teams by inSupply.
CCE
Cold chain management during Covid-19 - Panel discussion
Join us for a panel discussion to learn how several programs have managed cold chain maintenance during Covid-19. We will discuss how have they overcome obstacles of restricted travel, competing priorities, etc. and what suggestions or lessons learned can they share.
CCE
WHO PQS – Your Cold Chain’s First Line of Defense
News and updates from WHO and PATH on PQS advancements since the last TechNet Conference; the new PQS Post-Market Monitoring works stream and cold chain equipment sentinel surveillance pilots; and the development of new PQS ultra-low temperature (ULT) products for vaccines requiring ULT cold chain storage.
17:00-18:00
CCE
Cold chain innovations - learnings from field evaluations of freeze protection and energy harvesting
Freeze preventive vaccine carriers are now available to protect freeze-sensitive vaccines during transport. This sesion will share experiences, challenges and learnings from a field trial in Nepal where the Family Health Division and BPKIHS evaluated several freeze-preventive vaccine carriers over the past year. / Energy Harvest Control (EHC) is a new way to utilize excess solar energy from solar direct drive (SDD) refrigerators. Senegal has been testing this new technology with several SDDs and is sharing the findings, learnings and challenges of ECH (session in french)
VACCINE MANAGEMENT
EVM2: A New tool for resilient programmes and continuous ISC performance improvement
The EVM assessment tool has been revamped to facilitate national assessments and continuous Improvement Plans with minimal external support. The new tool’s ease and flexibility now also enables countries to manage self-assessments at any level, to facilitate continuous ISC improvement and support national resilience through capacity development and empowered workforce.
Souleymane Kone (WHO EPI)
VACCINE MANAGEMENT
Building a more resilient supply chain through design
In this session you will hear from several countries that have taken a system design approach to improve the performance of their immunization supply chains. Zambia and DRC have both changed significant components of their supply chains based on evidence, and the results are impressive. This session will also highlight the results of the system design analysis from Madagascar, Niger and Guinea.
18:00-18:30
Plenary: Closing ceremony
In this closing plenary session of Day two, we take a look back, look ahead, and get in the mood for the Manufacturer Marketplace.
Closing remarks
A word of appreciation
Let’s keep talking
Conference closing
Introducing the Manufacturers Marketplace
Manufacturer Marketplace
An opportunity to meet WHO PQS prequalified manufacturers, learn about their PQS products and ask questions. Each manufacturer will have their own breakout room to present their products and answer questions from participants.
VACCINE MANAGEMENT
How changing vial size can improve your immunization services
With COVID demanding smaller session sizes, it is more important than ever to consider smaller vaccine vial size to better tailor to session sizes.This presentation will share results from an implementation study on 5-dose MR in Zambia. Results showed increased coverage for both MR1 and MR2, lower wastage rates, and no cold chain constraints at the facility level. The results are timely and are supported by a guidance document to help decision makers consider the change.
20:00-20:30
ISC STRATEGIES
Strategies for catch-up and reducing missed opportunities for vaccination (MOV)
Timely vaccination is important for ensuring populations are fully protected against life-threatening illnesses as early as possible, and preventing large outbreaks of VPDs. Yet, scheduled vaccinations may be missed for a number of reasons, e.g. due to health system, caregiver or health worker related issues. Or in the current context, due to a catastrophic event. However, no one should miss out on the right to the protection that vaccines offer, simply because they are unable to access services in time. Establishing a catch-up vaccination strategy and incorporating approaches to better integrate service delivery and reduce missed opportunities for vaccination are important aspects of immunization system strengthening, and can contribute significantly to closing population immunity gaps.
20:30-21:00
ISC STRATEGIES
Service experience: interlinking supply and demand for immunization
Provision of high quality, people-centered services are key to increasing acceptance and uptake of immunization. Using illustrative examples, we explore the different components which make for quality service experiences that drive demand and uptake of immunization services, and how resource management (including supply) plays a critical role in this delivery model.
21:00-21:30
CCE
Improving cold chain equipment management in Uganda with a data centered approach and ODK-X
UNEPI has piloted the use of ODK-X for CCE management (an open source application) in three districts to improve the visibility and management of cold chain equipment. Join us for a discussion of how the app works, and how it has improved data collection and action for CCE maintenance and management to improve the safe and potent storage of life saving vaccines.
21:30-22:00
CCE
Gavi and UNICEF - CCEOP, IMPT and procurement updates.
Representatives from Gavi and UNICEF Supply Division and Programme Division provide procurement and implementation updates on the Cold Chain Equipment Optimization Platform (CCEOP) and the Intelligent Maintenance and Planning Tool (IMPT). The session will also explore areas under consideration in the next Gavi strategic period 2021-2025 and solicit feedback from stakeholders.
22:00-22:30
CCE
Temperature monitoring and performance management of cold chain equipment– two complementary approaches
This sessions shares two presentations discussing the importance of temperature monitoring of cold chain equipment and the impact of the data generated from temperature monitoring activities. The first presentation is about the Varo app which allows direct download and emailing of FridgeTag 2 data in Kenya and Nigeria. The second presentation is about remote temperature monitoring experiences with Nexleaf in Tanzania.