Project Optimize

Dan Brigden

Project Optimize was a unique five-year collaboration between the World Health Organization (WHO) and PATH to identify ways in which supply chains can be optimized to meet the demands of an increasingly large and costly portfolio of vaccines. The overarching goal was to generate momentum to move the immunization world closer to an ideal vaccine supply chain that supports stronger, more adaptable, and more efficient logistics systems, extending the reach of lifesaving health technologies to people around the world.

This page contains links to important project Optimize publications in the following categories.

All Optimize publications are available on both the PATH Optimize or WHO Optimize websites. For each publication listed below, links to both websites are provided.

Banner used in the Project Optimize Travelling Exhibit. Photo: WHO/PATH.

Information systems

TitleAuthorYearTypeLanguage
A case for better immunization information systemsPATH, World Health Organization (WHO)2013GuidanceEnglish, French
Before and After: How an Online Immunization Registry has Benefitted Health Workers in AlbaniaPATH, World Health Organization (WHO)2013Case studyEnglish, French
Immunization information systems: IIS in AlbaniaPATH, World Health Organization (WHO)2013Case studyEnglish
Immunization information systems: ImmReg in VietnamPATH, World Health Organization (WHO)2013Case studyEnglish
Immunization information systems: Logistimo in South SudanPATH, World Health Organization (WHO)2013Case studyEnglish
Immunization information systems: VaxTrak in VietnamPATH, World Health Organization (WHO)2013Case studyEnglish
Immunization information systems: vrMIS in MozambiquePATH, World Health Organization (WHO)2013Case studyEnglish
Immunization information systems: wVSSM in TunisiaPATH, World Health Organization (WHO)2013Case studyEnglish
Keeping Track of Vietnam's VaccinesPATH, World Health Organization (WHO)2012Case studyEnglish
PATH Immunization Information Systems - OverviewPATH2013GuidanceEnglish
Planning an Information Systems Project: A Toolkit for Public Health ManagersBrian Taliesin, Dan Brigden, Jan GrevendonkGuidanceEnglish
Pourquoi devrait-on améliorer les systèmes d'information pour la vaccination?PATH2013GuidanceFrench
Vietnam’s Immunization Registries Go OnlinePATH, World Health Organization (WHO)2013Case studyEnglish

Vaccine presentation

TitleAuthorYearTypeLanguage
Designing vaccines for developing-country populations: ideal attributes, delivery devices, and presentation formatsDebra Kristensen, Michel Zaffran2010Journal articleEnglish

Cold chain technologies

TitleAuthorYearTypeLanguage
Direct-Drive Solar Vaccine RefrigeratorsPATH, World Health Organization (WHO)2013Case studyEnglish, French
Domestic refrigerators for vaccine storage in TunisiaPATH, World Health Organization (WHO)Case studyEnglish
Installing and Testing Battery-Free Solar Refrigerators in VietnamPATH, World Health Organization (WHO)2013Case studyEnglish, French
Stimulating innovation in the vaccine cold chain equipment industryPATH, World Health Organization (WHO)2013Case studyEnglish, French
Unplugged and keeping coolPATH, World Health Organization (WHO)2013Case studyEnglish, French

Temperature monitoring

TitleAuthorYearTypeLanguage
Temperature Monitoring for Vaccine QualityPATH, World Health Organization (WHO)2012Case studyEnglish, French

Controlled temperature chain

Supply system design and policies

TitleAuthorYearTypeLanguage
A Moving Warehouse Delivers Vaccines and Essential Health Supplies in SenegalPATH, World Health Organization (WHO)2013Case studyEnglish, French
Integrating the Supply Chains of Vaccines and Other Health CommoditiesPATH, World Health Organization (WHO)2013Case studyEnglish, French
Integration of vaccine supply chains with other health commodity supply chains: A framework for decision makingPrashant Yadav et al.2014Journal articleEnglish
Outsourcing Vaccine Supply Chain and Logistics to the Private SectorPATH, World Health Organization (WHO)2012Case studyEnglish, French

2020 vision for vaccine supply and logistics systems

TitleAuthorYearTypeLanguage
Achieving the Global Vision for Future Immunization Supply and Logistics Systems: Action PlansPATH, World Health Organization (WHO)2012GuidanceEnglish
Developing a Vision for Immunization Supply Systems in 2020: Landscape Analysis SummariesPATH, World Health Organization (WHO)2011GuidanceEnglish
Now Is the TimePATH, World Health Organization (WHO)2020GuidanceEnglish
The imperative for stronger vaccine supply and logistics systemsMichel ZaffranJournal articleEnglish

Country reports

Optimize collaborated with national immunization programs in six countries to demonstrate innovative solutions to supply chain challenges. Detailed information on these demonstration projects can be found in the country-specific Optimize reports listed below.

TitleAuthorYearTypeLanguage
Optimize: Albania ReportA. Mesi, E. Nelaj, Jan Grevendonk, Silva BinoCase studyEnglish
Optimize: Guatemala ReportPATH, World Health Organization (WHO)2013Case studyEnglish
Optimize: Senegal ReportPATH, World Health Organization (WHO)1960GuidanceEnglish
Optimize: South Sudan ReportPATH, World Health Organization (WHO)2013Case studyEnglish
Optimize: Tunisia ReportPATH, World Health Organization (WHO)2013Case studyEnglish
Optimize: Vietnam ReportPATH, World Health Organization (WHO)2013Case studyEnglish

Newsletters

The Op-ti-mize newsletter was a quarterly publication that highlighted advances and innovations in health care logistics, technologies, and policy - with a focus on immunization. An archive of every edition can be found on the PATH and WHO Optimize websites.