Vaccine
Volume 37, Issue 35, 2019, Pages 4928-4936

The Global Vaccine Action Plan – insights into its utility, application, and ways to strengthen future plans (Article)

Daugherty M.A.* , Hinman A.R. , Cochi S.L. , Garon J.R. , Rodewald L.E. , Nowak G. , McKinlay M.A. , Mast E.E. , Orenstein W.A.
  • a Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • b Center for Vaccine Equity, Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, GA, United States
  • c Global Immunization Division, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • d Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • e National Immunization Program, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
  • f Center for Health & Risk Communication, Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
  • g Center for Vaccine Equity, Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, GA, United States
  • h Global Immunization Division, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • i Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States, Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States

Abstract

Background: The pace of global progress must increase if the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) goals are to be achieved by 2020. We administered a two-phase survey to key immunization stakeholders to assess the utility and application of GVAP, including how it has impacted country immunization programs, and to find ways to strengthen the next 10-year plan. Methods: For the Phase I survey, an online questionnaire was sent to global immunization stakeholders in summer 2017. The Phase II survey was sent to regional and national immunization stakeholders in summer 2018, including WHO Regional Advisors on Immunization, Expanded Programme on Immunization managers, and WHO and UNICEF country representatives from 20 countries. Countries were selected based on improvements (10) versus decreases (10) in DTP3 coverage from 2010 to 2016. Results: Global immunization stakeholders (n = 38) cite global progress in improving vaccine delivery (88%) and engaging civil society organizations as advocates for vaccines (83%). Among regional and national immunization stakeholders (n = 58), 70% indicated reaching mobile and underserved populations with vaccination activities as a major challenge. The top ranked activities for helping country programs achieve progress toward GVAP goals include improved monitoring of vaccination coverage and upgrading disease surveillance systems. Most respondents (96%) indicated GVAP as useful for determining immunization priorities and 95% were supportive of a post-2020 GVAP strategy. Conclusions: Immunization stakeholders see GVAP as a useful tool, and there is cause for excitement as the global immunization community looks toward the next decade of vaccines. The next 10-year plan should attempt to increase political will, align immunization activities with other health system agendas, and address important issues like reaching mobile/migrant populations and improving data reporting systems. © 2019 Elsevier Ltd

Author Keywords

Global vaccine action plan Surveys and questionnaires Immunization programs Vaccine-preventable diseases Immunization vaccines

Index Keywords

priority journal world health organization health care planning questionnaire global vaccine action plan immunization Article disease surveillance human vaccine
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85068981290&doi=10.1016%2fj.vaccine.2019.07.042&partnerID=40&md5=5290a9a052ecd5011b10e3eb4157722a
DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.07.042
ISSN: 0264410X
Original Language: English