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Vaccine Data Discovery Webinar #2: The Health System Map and Its Actors: Introducing you to the key actors who make up the Kenyan Immunization Program

The Health System Map and Its Actors: Introducing you to the key actors who make up the Kenyan Immunization Program July 2, 2020, 9:30 a.m. EDT / 1:30 p.m. GMT REGISTER HERE: https://who.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_o32Yz42hTfyiq-vwn-cktQ Join JSI and Sonder Design Collective for a second in a series of mini 30-minute webinars sharing their initial findings from The Vaccine Data Discovery Research in Kenya. This Human-Centered Design study is a joint effort between the two organizations and the Ministry of Health in Kenya, aimed at understanding the challenges around collecting and using data for decision-making in delivering immunization services.  In this webinar, the team will take you through their learnings about immunization actors in the Kenyan health system. Through their system map and focusing on key actors, they will cover what decisions are made, what information they use to make these decisions and the key challenges they face along the way. For more informati...

Re-framing how we think about decision-making: 3 lessons from healthcare workers and managers in Kenya

You are invited to join an upcoming webinar: Re-framing how we think about decision-making: 3 lessons from healthcare workers and managers in Kenya June 18, 2020, 9:30 a.m. EST / 3:30 p.m. GMT REGISTER HERE:  https://who.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PJf7_O9KThKeLUWWKl-kOA  Join JSI and Sonder Design Collective for a first in a series of mini 30-minute webinars sharing their initial findings from The Vaccine Data Discovery Research in Kenya. This Human-Centered Design study is a joint effort between the two organizations and the Ministry of Health in Kenya, aimed at understanding the challenges around collecting and using data for decision-making in delivering immunization services.  In this webinar, the team will deep dive into 3 insights around decision-making in the Kenya health system, covering perceptions around who is and is not a decision-maker, the context in which decisions are made, and how relevant information is accessed to inform these decisions.  ...

Solar Cooking, Equipment Sterilization and Syringe Waste Processing

I have been working on solar electric cooking systems which are appropriate for the developing. The system I think has the most promise is a solar direct system,no batteries. Thermal storage allows hot food to be eaten 5 hours after sunset. A  single 280 watt PV module would supply all the energy needed to cook a days worth of food for a family of 5.                                                   STERILIZER A spin off  from this project are two potential products for the cold chain, A pressure cooker (sterilizer}. With a 280 watt module the pressure cookers contents could be sterilized in about one hour.                                                    SYRINGE WASTE A second app...

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) tool for cold chain equipment version 1.9 now available

Dear all, we hope you are in good health and staying safe. We have just released version 1.9 of the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) tool for cold chain equipment. Also update is the online tool http://www.coldchainTCO.org 

Version 1.9 includes price updates from the latest UNICEF SD LTA as well as four new CCE products.  

Please  bookmark or regularly reference the website for the latest versions of the excel tool. https://www.path.org/resources/total-cost-of-ownership-tool-for-cold-chain-equipment/ 

Matt 

Contingency Planning for Immunization Supply Chain

A business continuity plan (BCP) outlines how a programme or project will continue operating during an unplanned disruption in service. It contains contingencies for processes, assets, human resources and partners – every aspect of the programme that might be affected. The BCP for immunization supply chain operation is one of the risk-based planning approaches to ensure adequate vaccines and immunization supplies for routine immunization and vaccination campaigns once the COVID-19 pandemic is under control where they have been put on hold. It also applies to emergencies beyond COVID-19. In line with country need, we have developed a guidance on Maintaining Immunization Supply Chain Operations in the context of COVID-19: Considerations for the National Logistics Working Groups (NLWGs). This guidance explains why a continuity plan is required, basic principles and key considerations with links to existing resources.  See available here in English and French:  https://www.te...

Logistical challenges for potential SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and a call to research institutions, developers and manufacturers

Commentary paper authored by me, Kelly Lynn Moore and John Lloyd "Logistical challenges for potential SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and a call to research institutions, developers and manufacturers" is now available online in VACCINE journal. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X20308422?fbclid=IwAR0OMAK6FoPIHmWkVsXEgb85hV0VpxT1dEe6EaodtlJJKllQqpNbz7P48q8     In the absence of specific treatment or an effective vaccine, the SARS-CoV epidemic was brought to an end through public health tools like isolation, quarantine, physical distancing, and containment measures within eight months in 2003. Despite similarities between SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 (and with recognition of differences such as trajectories, infectious period, transmissibility, clinical spectrum, and community spread) similar public health measures were only able to slow the spread of COVID-19, suppressing the peak and providing health systems much needed time to scale up for eff...

A vaccine without an effective cold chain is no vaccine at all - tick tock.

The challenge before us is an enormous one – many lives hang in the balance. But never in the history of the world have we had as many resources available to craft solutions as we do today. When a Covid-19 vaccination is developed, we have the benefit of innovative homegrown tech that already exists to distribute it across the world, and across Africa. But again THE TIME TO ACT NOW!

Hybrid Solar Power Pack for Walk In Cooler A Green Initiative........

Hybrid Solar Power Pack for Walk In CoolerA Green Initiative........NCCRC,being largely instrumental in the area of integrating the newer technologies in the cold chain & continually putting its efforts towards making the immunization cold chain more & more reliable. As striving for excellence,it has another feather in its cap...The centre has introduced the concept of "Hybrid Solar Power Pack with Smart PCU" to run the Walk-In-Cooler (Cold Room)..The objectives well set for addressing the Energy Measure Aspects & Promoting the Use of Green Energy. The plant has been installed & commissioned,successfully @ State Vaccine Store Pune,MH state-India & does have unparalleled benefits in terms of following..Long term solution,Reliable & efficient operation,Minimal maintenance,No Batteries required,For Load sharing,the priority & optimal selection of source (Solar or grid) is with Smart Control algorithm,Minimize the use of Generator Set (as during the day period s...

Second Pulse Survey and monitoring of impact of Covid19 on immunization - please share

Dear colleagues, We are all concerned about the impact of Covid on immunization as the pandemic evolves. The need for up-to-date data is high. Going forward our goal is to harmonize the ongoing efforts of data collection on the impact from all regions, but to have a quick idea of how immunization services have been affected in the month of May, we have put together a second pulse poll link here: In English: Pulse Poll Immunization May 2020 In French: Situation de la vaccination – sondage mai 2020   We ask you to share with country officers and in your network as you find it appropriate. This poll was developed by a monitoring group with members from WHO, UNICEF, GAVI secretariat, CDC, BMGF, Sabin’s Boost initiative and with contribution from IVAC and of course all the Regional officies. The survey will be shared by these partners and through Technet, Sabin’s Boost initiative (ex “International Immunization Manager Association”), and pos...