Integrated services for greater reach

This session discusses the potential of integrated services to address equity challenges. The session will present results from a study in Madagascar which identified integration of immunization and nutrition services as crucial, particularly in regions with existing food security programs. In addition, the session will also discuss the case of Lebanon which successfully deployed an integrated strategy to effectively demonstrate that while the child and family is being reached for immunization, the same platform can be a gateway to connect with other primary healthcare services and beyond.

Reaching hard-to-reach/remote populations - applying lessons from COVID and routine immunization

This session will highlight learnings from engaging communities for improving COVID-19 vaccinations for inmates in Nigeria and older persons in Kenya as well as strengthening routine immunizations for beach populations in Kenya and the role of data and supply chain in Guyana on reaching vulnerable populations.

Community health workers & person-centered care: Key to increasing coverage and equity

What is a CHWs role in promoting service demand, uptake, and quality? This panel will highlight the important role that Community Health Workers (CHWs) play in supporting immunization service delivery. Commentary and programmatic examples from VillageReach, CHAI, JSI and video-based commentary from a Malawi-based CHW will share perspectives from the field.

Promoting equity through supply chain design

Explore the multifaceted aspects of promoting equity through supply chain design. Delve into gender equity and social inclusion in supply chains, identifying and addressing supply chain equity barriers, increasing access through service network extension; And gain insights from a case study on human-cantered design to improve access and service delivery in Ghana.

Human-centered design and behavioural interventions to improve coverage

This session will showcase three abstracts highlighting the power of human-centered design (HCD) and behavioural interventions to improve coverage. In Kenya, PATH’s collaboration with the National Vaccines and Immunization Program addressed vaccine demand, considering religious and cultural factors. In Malawi, a successful strategy, co-created with communities, substantially increased COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Lastly, Madagascar’s session will demonstrate how HCD was applied to address urban immunization challenges through collaboration with stakeholders.

HPV vaccine implementation and revitalisation

The presentation outlines the Global Strategy for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer and the goal of achieving over 90% coverage in 9 to 14-year-old population. It reports on vaccination progress in the Americas and TAG’s recommendation for a one-dose HPV series in the Region, as well as available support from Gavi.

Service delivery integration

This session will focus on findings from interventions implemented in Nigeria and Cameroon to assess or demonstrate the impact of service delivery integration at the primary health care level. The service delivery integration focused on specific primary health care services, especially immunization and delivery services.

Continuous improvement planning - The Journey and the Destination

While the EVM initiative was conceptualized as a critical continuous improvement approach to strengthening immunization supply chain programmes, there’s a disproportionate focus on the assessment phase-manifesting in delayed or no cIPs development, lack of monitoring of improvement activities’ implementation cIPs and very limited visibility on progress. The session will introduce initiatives from countries, regional, and global levels to ensure that countries effectively develop cIPs in a timely fashion, monitor implementation and position to contribute better to health and development outcomes.

Innovative access

Panel and Q&A focused on innovative strategies to address immunization access barriers. Strategies include leveraging community health workers as vaccinators; direct delivery of routine immunization vaccines and other PHC commodities (DRIVE); strategies for vaccination in security compromised settings; “market storms”; and leveraging community role models and community vaccination sessions.

Online training: approaches and pitfalls

Speakers from WHO, Sabin Vaccine Institute, UNICEF Guatemala, and JSI India will provide an overview of online training solutions that were created for self- and peer-to-peer learning on immunization topics. They will share lessons learned from the development and implementation of those solutions in Guatemala, India and globally.

Leveraging micro-array patch (MAP) technology for vaccine delivery

Microarray patches are a promising new innovation for administering vaccines to the skin which hold potential to transform delivery of vaccines. This session will discuss recent advances in MAP development, the potential cost impact of MAPs for immunization programs, and usability data from healthcare workers and community health workers in Kenya.

Innovative approaches to improve birthdose coverage

Many children do not receive birth dose vaccines, even when born in health facilities. Research from IVAC and CHAI in Cameroon, Madagascar, and Nigeria uncovers some of the barriers and challenges of this critical touchpoint in the continuum of care, and they highlight possible solutions emerging directly from health workers.

Cold chain challenges and solutions (Spanish)

This session was held in Spanish, with interpretation in English, French and Portuguese provided. The requirements for storing vaccines at ULT, such as Covid-19 vaccines, the cold chain becomes a fundamental piece to guarantee the quality of vaccines. The use of technology and information systems, storage capacity was optimized. The introduction of all Covid-19 vaccines strengthened the management operations of the cold chain and supply chain, including the routine program.

Forecasting and demand - Nigeria and Mozambique case studies

Methods and challenges for forecasting routine and COVID-19 vaccines for both the public and private sectors in low and middle-income countries will be shared through two case study examples.

Thinking outside the cold box: Finding solutions to your cold chain maintenance

Participants are invited to get creative and contribute their ideas for solutions to making cold chain maintenance systems more effective and reliable. Learn about insights from research and practical experiences with maintenance from Uganda, Nigeria and Niger, and then be part of a “co-creation workshop” to brainstorm potential solutions for your maintenance system.

Innovations for immunization: Solarization, freeze prevention and lifecycle assessment

Learn about advances in technology in multiple areas: freeze prevention cold boxes for vaccines from a study in Nepal; experience using cool water packs in Cameroon; and discuss the environmental impact and lifecycle assessments of syringes to inform procurement and product choices.

Strengthening routine immunization in the wake of Covid-19

This session will cover research findings and interventions being implemented across 7 countries to strengthen routine immunization systems in response to the backslide in immunization coverage resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The discussion will focus on topics including improved outreach services and community-centered approaches to research and implementation.

Controlled temperature chain (CTC) - New opportunities and reducing risk

Speakers from Gavi, PATH and WHO will present an update on controlled temperature chain, an innovative approach prioritized by the Vaccine Innovation Prioritisation Strategy (VIPS). We will share case studies from country experience with CTC, update the prequalified vaccines available, and engage the audience in an interactive game to demonstrate the CTC experience.

Tools and platforms that support selection, access, and service strategies

During this session two WHO country-led approaches developed as part of the Country-led Assessment for Prioritisation on Immunisation (CAPACITI) project will be presented that are grounded in shared principles. Firstly, the CAPACITI Innovation Framework for priority setting of vaccine innovations. Secondly, the CAPACITI decision-support tool for priority setting of available vaccines.

How we deliver vaccines into arms - Syringes, devices, packaging considerations

This session will include three presentations on immunization product design and suitability, and their program, supply chain, and market challenges. Products to be discussed as multi-dose vials, prefilled and non-prefilled devices, and Autodisable (AD) syringes during COVID-19.

Vaccines up in the air - Transport by drone and traditional air freight

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, supply chains responsiveness and resiliency became a priority in global health. To that end, health supply chains must levrage all tools in the box to ensuring timely access to life- saving medicines and healthcare. Vaccine air transportation, both using traditional air transport and uncrewed aircraft systems, has expanded in regions with reduced accessibility, improving and shortening availability and access of the vaccines in these regions. During this session, we will look at the impact of Air-travel logistics using traditional and uncrewed aircrafts on access and availability of vaccines.

Local manufacturing

This session will include PAHO Revolving Fund discussing the importance of sustainable business cases for local production of immunization-related supplies given financial constraints; a second presentation will share an example of a conceptual and quantitative model of vaccine manufacturing ecosystems that support stakeholders at regional and national levels with making decisions for sustainable and equitable vaccine manufacturing.

Managing your cold chain inventory: Innovations to make your life easier

New tools for managing CCE inventory have been rolled out in multiple countries. Learn about the experiences and lessons learned from Guatemala with the “Inventory System and Cold Chain Capacity”; from Uganda with the Cold Chain Inventory System; and from the WHO European region using the web platform Inventory Gap Analysis.

Procurement and longevity of cold-chain equipment

Learn about new innovations related to CCE management. Lao PDR managed a country-led service bundle implementation of CCEOP. Nexleaf will provide insight into barriers impacting the performance of the CCE from using temperature data. And finally, think differently about CCE management through a lease-type delivery model for long-term sustainability and CCE functionality.

Increasing stock visibility for improved decision making and access to health

Work conducted by eHealth Africa in Nigeria, and by MMGH and Bocconi in collaboration with local partners in Guinea, Honduras, Rwanda, and Tanzania has shown that using electronic tools to increase vaccine stocks visibility helps reduce stockouts, ensure access to services, and raise coverage. Solutions are needed to increase government ownership and strengthen infrastructure to ensure sustainability.

Advances in vaccine barcoding

Barcodes increase efficiency of supply chains and enable overall visibility into vaccines in real-time. This session will explore barcodes advancements in LMICs – learn about the use cases for implementation, understand what is being done to accelerate implementation, hear examples of barcode use from countries, and glimpse into the future of verification.

Keys to vaccine stock availability - New findings on vaccine waste and public finance

This session explores two immunization program aspects impacting vaccine availability. Evidence on vaccine wastage is presented, with recommendations on improvements to reduce wastage. Comparisons are made between vaccine stock-out data from Thrive360 and WHO/UNICEF Joint Reporting Form, proposing a framework for analyzing links between stock-outs and public financial management.

Strengthening the cold chain and lessons learned during the Covid-19 pandemic (Spanish)

This session was held in Spanish, with interpretation in English, French and Portuguese provided. The introduction of new technologies for the storage, transportation and temperature traceability for Covid-19 vaccines required training of health staff, including the use of ULT equipment and updating CCE inventories at all levels. Underpinning cold chain and supply chain operations was the strengthening the information system for supporting technical and operational capacity.

Supply chain integration

Experts discuss integrated storage and supply chain management for temperature-sensitive health commodities. Learn about CHAI’s integration of oxytocin in Kenya and Uganda, and PATH’s recommendations for strengthening cold chain in PHC. Join the panel to uncover barriers and enablers for effective integration.

Reflections from the CCEOP and Covax

Explores the achievements, challenges and lessons learned from programmatic implementation, procurement and market shaping efforts of the Gavi Alliance’s Cold Chain Equipment Optimisation Platform (CCEOP) and COVAX. Also looks at challenges around CCE inventory systems, maintenance, decommissioning, temperature monitoring and improving the sustainability of the full CCE ecosystem.