Immunization supply chain and logistics - A neglected but essential system for national immunization programmes

In this Call-to-Action, the WHO Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (IPAC) advocates greater action by both national programmes and the global immunization community to strengthen Immunization Supply Chain and Logistics. This Call-to-Action was approved by IPAC in October 2013 and endorsed by the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization in April 2013. In response to a rapidly changing and increasingly complex vaccination landscape where existing Immunization Supply Chain and Logistics (ISCL) systems are not keeping pace, the IPAC calls on national immunization programmes to measure, monitor and invest in their ISCL systems, and to plan and implement improvements. In addition, the IPAC calls on the global community of partners to increase awareness and investment, to harmonize ISCL silos, to address ISCL when formulating immunization recommendations, and to identify and resolve knowledge gaps. The short Call-to-Action document provides some background evidence and proposes specific strategies.