Integrating COVID-19 Vaccination into Immunization Programmes and Primary Health Care
TechNet-21 has released a list of COVID-19 integration resources to support countries to develop and implement COVID-19 vaccine integration strategies that are aligned with the global WHO - UNICEF guidance. The integration support package aims at offering an organized information space that:
• Facilitates countries, development partners, NGOs and entities supporting COVID-19 vaccination integration into essential immunization program and Primary Health Care Program (PHC), map the current status of integration efforts and a way forward; access successes and challenges of their COVID-19 vaccination programmes that would potentially inform about emerging issues in real-time and thus open a pathway for immediate solutions.
• Establishes a knowledge platform that creates an operational legacy to inform COVID-19 vaccine integration planning and strengthening each of the health system building blocks and across life-course, as well as, creating synergies with the PHC program through developing adult vaccination platforms that could be scaled up in preparation of a future health crisis.
Topic areas include:
•General guidance for COVID-19 vaccine integration: This document aims to provide a definition, principles and overview of the benefits and risks of integrating COVID-19 vaccination into immunization programmes, PHC and other relevant health services. The document is available in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish.
•Integration mapping tool and complementary materials: Enables countries to conduct a situational analysis and assess the current state of COVID-19 vaccination integration along health system building blocks to identify existing strengths and potential focus areas that may require further action/investment to advance integration. The mapping tool is available in English and French.
•Readiness assessment checklist: Allows countries to efficiently use the checklist (Annex 3 of the guidance) to assess their status on COVID-19 vaccine integration by health system building block. The checklist is available in English and French.
•Implementation support documents: Provides countries with practical and action-oriented support (e.g., country best practices, lessons learned) for implementation of global guidelines along health system building blocks and/or target populations.
The page of resources will be regularly updated as soon as new resources are available.