This manual includes operational guidelines developed to help the readers dealing with all or some parts of Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) logistics system-including the staff managing the information system and those managing and controlling the inventory systems. Guidelines for monitoring and assessing the functioning of the logistics system are included in the manual; these will help the staff that regularly monitor the system and the information will help senior managers in decisionmaking improve the system. At the beginning of each chapter, a table shows the various levels of EPI staff involvement and its relevancy for each description/topic.
This manual provides basic information and techniques for managing vaccines, including diluents, syringes, and others in the cold chain system and for effectively using the vaccine logistics management information system (VLMIS). All efforts were made to keep the manual aligned with the National EPI Policy and Strategic Guidelines, federal EPI standard operating procedure, and Effective Vaccine Management guidelines from the United Nations Children's Fund and the World Health Organization.