Introducing the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in Rwanda

Dear moderator: As you may know, since November 2007, IMMUNIZATIONbasics project, along with other partners, started to provide extensive technical support to the National Immunization Program (NIP) in Rwanda, helping technical staff with the preparation of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine introduction. 1. Proposal development IMMUNIZATIONbasics project worked closely with the National Immunization Program (NIP) to prepare Rwanda's application to GAVI for the introduction of pneumococcal vaccine. In doing so, IMMUNIZATIONbasics coordinated closely with WHO/AFRO's Inter-country Support Team (IST) for Central Africa. Both organizations worked with the NIP to review Rwanda's cMYP, developed the pneumococcal vaccine introduction plan, and drafted the application to GAVI for the introduction of this vaccine. Given the fact that the seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-7) to be provided by GAVI has unique product characteristics that pose challenges (provided in pre-filled glass syringes, without vaccine vial monitors (VVM), without needles attached, that occupy a high per-dose storage volume in the cold chain (55.9 cm3 per dose) and require special, high-temperature incinerators for their eventual destruction after use, IMMUNIZATIONbasics worked closely with the NIP to address the following challenges: 2. Cold chain needs Special advocacy to increase cold chain needs at district and health facility levels 3. Review of the EPI management tools, taking into account the needed information related to pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 4. Waste management and disposal Special waste management and disposal system for pneumococal conjugate vaccine in pre-filled glass syringes 5. Training Training of trainers and of the health workers using the specific training modules and Fiches techniques developed for this vaccine in its current presentation 6. Key messages to mothers and health workers Pre-test of the existing messages and development of appropriate messages taking into account the needs and concerns of mothers / caregivers related to this new vaccine, especially for their willingness to accept/provide two injections the same day. Attached are documents and several training material we, at the IMMUNIZATIONbasics project, developed and used in Rwanda: a) Documentation on perceptions of mothers and health workers related to pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in Rwanda (English) b) Technical support required to support a country for the new vaccine introduction (English) c) Training material for health workers (French) d) Training module for the trainers (French) d) Job aid for health workers (French and English) Thank you very much! Michel Othepa MD, MPH Technical Officer IMMUNIZATIONbasics JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. www.immunizationbasics.jsi.com ________ ##text## ##text## ##text## ##text## ##text##