Supporting VPOP: Guidance, tools, and resources for evidence-based decisions on vaccine prioritization and optimization

Molly Sauer

Countries now have access to an unprecedented wave of new vaccine options — alternative presentations, products, and schedules, as well as new vaccines in the pipeline. This expanding landscape provides an opportunity to examine the full vaccine portfolio and identify ways to improve coverage and impact, reduce costs and wastage, and lessen the burden on the cold chain and on health workers. Each switch comes with trade-offs, making it crucial that countries assess their priorities and weigh available evidence and programmatic factors for each option.
As countries begin to explore ways to optimize the EPI portfolio — whether to identify options better suited to their context, navigate supply challenges, or make space for new introductions — new and growing bodies of guidance, evidence, and experiences can help inform those discussions. 
This page provides a compendium of tools, guidance documents, and case studies to support countries in navigating available and upcoming vaccine options and making evidence-based decisions to optimize the cost, impact, logistics or programmatic ease of their vaccine portfolio and prioritize new vaccine decisions.

Content 

  1. Vaccine portfolio optimization guidance
  2. Guidance for Gavi-eligible countries
  3. Decision-making tools and resources
  4. Vaccine-specific information

1. Vaccine portfolio optimization guidance

TitleAuthorYearTypeLanguage
Principles and considerations for adding a vaccine to a national immunization programme - From decision to implementation and monitoringWorld Health Organization (WHO)2014GuidanceArabic, English, French, Russian, Spanish

2. Guidance for Gavi-eligible countries

TitleAuthorYearTypeLanguage
Gavi Product MenuUNICEF2023RepositoryEnglish
Gavi Support GuidelinesGavi, the Vaccine Alliance2023GuidanceEnglish, French
Vaccine Detailed product profiles (DPPs) For Gavi-supported vaccinesGavi, the Vaccine Alliance2022RepositoryEnglish, French

3. Decision-making tools and resources 

Decision support tools and technical assistance 

TitleAuthorYearTypeLanguage
Decade of Vaccine Economics (DOVE)International Vaccine Access Center (IVAC)ToolEnglish
Vaccine Economics Research for Sustainability and Equity (VERSE)International Vaccine Access Center (IVAC)2025ToolEnglish
Immunization Decision-Making Resource CatalogueWorld Health Organization (WHO)2023ToolEnglish
Country-led Assessment for Prioritization in Immunization (CAPACITI) decision-support toolWorld Health Organization (WHO)2020ToolEnglish, French, Portuguese, Spanish
Resource Center for National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs) worldwideGlobal NITAG NetworkRepositorySpanish
Guidance on an adapted evidence to recommendation process for National Immunization Technical Advisory GroupsWorld Health Organization (WHO)GuidanceEnglish, Russian
 

Country experiences and lessons learned

TitleAuthorYearTypeLanguage
The effects of switching from 10 to 5-dose vials of MR vaccine on vaccination coverage and wastage: A mixed-method study in ZambiaKirstin Krudwig, Barbara Knittel, Ali Karim, Natasha Kanagat, Wendy Prosser, Guissimon Phiri, Frances Mwansa, Robert Steinglass2020Journal articleEnglish
A Switch for Sustainability in Ghana's Rotavirus Vaccine ProgramGeorge Armah2020Case studyEnglish
Introducing 5-dose Measles-Rubella Vaccine Vials in Zambia: Research FindingsDose Per Container Partnership (DPCP), JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc2019Case studyEnglish
The switch from ROTARIX to ROTAVAC in Ghana: Answers to four key questionsPATH2022ReportEnglish
Economic Implications of Switching Rotavirus Vaccine Products in Palestine's Immunization ProgramPATH2020Case studyRussian
The Health Benefits of Rotavirus Immunization for Children in Palestine: Results of a Vaccine Impact AnalysisPATH, Rostropovich-Vishnevskaya Foundation, Palestine Ministry of Health2021ReportRussian

4. Vaccine-specific information

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) 

TitleAuthorYearTypeLanguage
UNICEF Pricing Information-PCVUNICEF2023DatasheetEnglish
Considerations for PCV product choiceWorld Health Organization (WHO)2021GuidanceEnglish
VIEW-hub data on PCV introductions, coverage, and productsJohns Hopkins University, International Vaccine Access Center (IVAC)2000ToolEnglish
PCV catch-up vaccination FAQCHOICES2023GuidanceEnglish, French
WHO position papersWorld Health Organization (WHO)RepositoryArabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish
Vaccine Detailed product profiles (DPPs) For Gavi-supported vaccinesGavi, the Vaccine Alliance2022RepositoryEnglish, French

Rotavirus vaccines (RVV)

TitleAuthorYearTypeLanguage
UNICEF Pricing Information-RVVUNICEF2021DatasheetEnglish
VIEW-hub data on RVV introductions, coverage, and productsInternational Vaccine Access Center (IVAC), Johns Hopkins UniversityToolEnglish
Summary of key characteristics of WHO Prequalified Rotavirus vaccinesWorld Health Organization (WHO)Poster/infographicEnglish
WHO position papersWorld Health Organization (WHO)RepositoryArabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish
Vaccine Detailed product profiles (DPPs) For Gavi-supported vaccinesGavi, the Vaccine Alliance2022RepositoryEnglish, French

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines 

TitleAuthorYearTypeLanguage
VIEW-hub data on HPV introductions, coverage, and productsInternational Vaccine Access Center (IVAC), Johns Hopkins UniversityToolEnglish
UNICEF Pricing Information-HPVUNICEF2021DatasheetEnglish
WHO position papersWorld Health Organization (WHO)RepositoryArabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish
HPV VACCINE SCHEDULE OPTIMIZATION Key considerations for decision-making, planning, and implementationPATH, JSI, UNICEF, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Jhpiego, International Vaccine Access Center (IVAC), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health2023GuidanceEnglish, French, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish
Vaccine Detailed product profiles (DPPs) For Gavi-supported vaccinesGavi, the Vaccine Alliance2022RepositoryEnglish, French

Measles-containing vaccines (MCV / MR / MMR)

TitleAuthorYearTypeLanguage
VIEW-hub data on MCV introductions, coverage, and productsInternational Vaccine Access Center (IVAC), Johns Hopkins UniversityToolEnglish
UNICEF Pricing Information-MCVUNICEF2021DatasheetEnglish
UNICEF - Measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) price dataUNICEF2021DatasheetEnglish
UNICEF - Measles and rubella vaccine (MR) price dataUNICEF2022DatasheetEnglish
WHO position papersWorld Health Organization (WHO)RepositoryArabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish
Vaccine Detailed product profiles (DPPs) For Gavi-supported vaccinesGavi, the Vaccine Alliance2022RepositoryEnglish, French
Transitioning to a 5-dose Measles and Measles-Rubella vaccine presentation for routine immunizationSheldon Halsted2025RepositoryEnglish

Hexavalent Vaccine