Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Introduction Readiness Assessment Tool (VIRAT/VRAF 2. 1 This Readiness Assessment tool is a national level tool. Data inputs should be entered into the worksheet 'Nation implement activities and assess progress are provided in the timeline 2 Pre-planning activities should be initiated as early as Sept 2020 (earliest time interval provided) as COVID-19 vac The tool will be updated as soon as more certainty about global vaccine supply availability becomes available 3 The reference page (Tab 2) contains a list of planning and technical documents that can be used for guidance in 4 Equivalence Tables are included to streamline a transition from either the old VIRAT or the VRAF to the new VIRA 5 Additional information on the purpose of this tool and how to use it is available on the Information Note provided ent Tool (VIRAT/VRAF 2.0) - Version 3 December 2020 nto the worksheet 'National Readiness'. Suggestions for timing and intervals to ovided) as COVID-19 vaccines may be available for introduction by early 2021. ity becomes available be used for guidance in completing some of the activities he VRAF to the new VIRAT/VRAF 2.0 tool. Tab 3 contains a full equivalency table. formation Note provided in the accompanying document Category A. PLANNING & COORDINATION B. BUDGETING C. REGULATORY D. PRIORITIZATION, TARGETING & COVID19 SURVEILLANCE E. SERVICE DELIVERY F. TRAINING & SUPERVISION G. MONITORING & EVALUATION H. VACCINE, COLD CHAIN, LOGISTICS & INFRASTRUCTURE H. VACCINE, COLD CHAIN, LOGISTICS & INFRASTRUCTURE I. SAFETY SURVEILLANCE J. DEMAND GENERATION & COMMUNICATION Country: Name & Agency of Staff completing review Date of review Activities A.1 Establish (or engage an existing committee) a National Coordinating Committee (NCC) for COVID-19 vaccine introduction with terms of reference, roles and responsibilities and regular meetings. The body and its leadership should be accountable and functional. A.2 Establish (or engage an existing working group) a National Technical Working Group (NTWG) for COVID-19 vaccine introduction with terms of reference, roles and responsibilities and regular meetings. A.3 Establish or engage existing NTWG subcommittees, if required, to cover the following workstreams: 1) service delivery 2) vaccine, cold chain & logistics, 3) demand generation & communication (4) prioritization, targeting and COVID-19 surveillance, (5) Monitoring and Evaluation: determination and proof of eligibility, proof of vaccination, monitoring of coverage among at-risk groups, and monitoring of vaccine impact (6) Safety, including injury prevention and AEFI detection and response. A.4 Brief key ministries, NITAG, stakeholders and partners about COVID-19 vaccine introduction and their expected roles. Inform regularly & disseminate global and regional guidance (i.e. SAGE) with NITAGs & RITAGs and support NITAG working groups on COVID-19 vaccines. A.5 Identify and plan for the national vaccine access/procurement approach (e.g. COVAX Facility, bilateral purchase agreement, procurement through UN agency, self-procurement), including costs of items, due diligence mechanisms; identify key needs, ensure regulatory compliance, and complete required paperwork. Ensure that the procurement plan and purchasing strategy includes vaccines, ancillary supplies, and Personal Protective Equipment. Budget has been approved; and monitoring arrangements are agreed and updated as needed. A.6 Plan and procure waste management supplies and equipment for appropriate implementation of waste management protocols. A.7 Ensure that program objectives are defined and agreed to by key stakeholders at the central and sub- national levels, including representatives of target populations, community leaders, religious leaders, etc., and reflect the epidemiological situation and are adaptable to vaccine supply scenarios (protection of vulnerable populations, continuity of essential services, equity). A.8 Develop the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan (NDVP) with input from relevant bodies (National COVID-19 Response Coordinating Committee, CNCC, CTWG, NITAG, National Immunization Programme, National Regulatory Authority, AEFI committee and other relevant groups such as private sector). The NDVP should be in line with WHO guidance and SAGE recommendations (plan can be developed by adapting the Pandemic Influenza NDVP, B.1 Include COVIDif existing). vaccine program costs (vaccine, operating costs, HR and capital costs) in government budgetary and/or planning documents approved by the appropriate authority; in addition, include appropriation or allocation (from MOF/treasury) in the cash planning as an additional means to ensure that financing is indeed readily available. B.2 Ensure management aspects of appropriations from the MOF/Treasury are in place. C.1 Confirm the existence of any expedited regulatory pathway for approval of COVID-19 vaccines (i.e. emergency use authorization, exceptional approval/approval mechanism based on reliance/recognition, abbreviated procedure, fast track, etc.). Time lines and maximum number of days should be mentioned. C.2 Ensure the national regulatory authority or other concerned authority has clarified the regulatory requirements, and documents needed for regulatory approvals of COVID-19 vaccines and related supplies. C.3 Ensure that regulatory procedures are in place for import permit of COVID-19 vaccines and related supplies, and identify the requirements and documents needed to import COVID-19 vaccines and related supplies, including for taxes and tariffs. C.4 Confirm to WHO the existence of an expedited import approval from appropriate authorities. Time lines and maximum number of days should be mentioned. (expected timeline: maximum 5 working days). C.5 Ensure COVID-19 vaccines can be released (lot release) in less than two days by reviewing the summary lot protocol only (testing is not required). Identify the requirements and documents needed for NRA lot release for COVID-19 vaccines. Time lines and maximum number of days for lot release/waiver process should be mentioned. D.1 Monitor progress of NITAG working groups on COVID-19 vaccines and interim recommendations focusing on prioritization and risk groups. D.2 Identify potential target populations that will be prioritized for access to vaccines, estimate their numbers, and identify their geographic location, i.e. prepare first to define, identify and estimate no. of HCWs. D.3 Coordinate with national COVID-19 disease surveillance group to ensure relevant epidemiological data will be collected to inform planning of subsequent rounds of COVAX vaccination, if applicable, including outbreak responses. E.1 Update protocols for infection prevention and control measures including adequate personal protection equipment (PPE) to minimize exposure risk during immunization sessions. E.2 Identify potential COVID-19 vaccine delivery strategies and outreach strategies leveraging both existing vaccination platforms and non-vaccination delivery approaches to best reach identified target groups. Develop a master list and strategy of service providers, points of delivery, including fixed and outreach (e.g. health facilities, community centers, by appointments, house-to-house) and associated medical supplies that could effectively deliver COVID-19 vaccine to target populations, and ensure that the necessary planning for locations and logistics is carried out. E.3 Identify implementing agencies and establish contractual agreements to prepare for vaccine introduction (e.g., vaccine warehousing, transport, waste management, cold chain capacity, etc.) where applicable. For delivery through private facilities, develop and approve Standard Operating Procedures, including service quality and performance and reporting standards and mechanisms for complaints-handling, certification of facilities, financing, performance monitoring and integrity checks. E.4 Ensure existence of protocols regarding consent to vaccinations, process for agreeing to or refusing to be vaccinated, and measures to protect those that refuse to be vaccinated are in place. F.1 Develop a training plan across all participating facilities to prepare for COVID-19 vaccine introduction that includes key groups of participants, content topic areas (including safe injection practices), key training partners and training methods (in-person or virtual). WHO will provide a template for guidance. F.2 Adapt and translate training materials developed by WHO and develop additional training materials as outlined in the training plan. F.3 Ensure availability of plans to safeguard the security of staff (e.g. during an emergency or major campaign) as well as security at the central and/or regional storage facilities and for in-transit of products. Ensure regulations are in place regarding personnel who will be carrying out vaccinations, including all staff/personnel/consultants etc. engaged in such activities (cover military personnel also, if relevant), and include requirements relating to chemical, physical and biological substances, not engaging in sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment, participation in training, reporting and non-retaliation. F.4 Conduct virtual and/or in person trainings as outlined in the training plan. G.1 Develop or adapt existing surveillance and monitoring framework with a set of recommended indicators (coverage, acceptability, disease surveillance etc.…) for COVID-19 vaccine, including gathering information from facilities and contractors participating in vaccine delivery, and ensuring necessary human resource capacity is in place. Determine whether registration and reporting will be individual or aggregate, and to what extent existing tools and systems can be re-used. G.2 Develop or adapt necessary paper-based and/or electronic monitoring tools and appropriate institutional arrangements, including vaccination cards/certificates, facility-based nominal registers and/or tally sheets, vaccination reports, medical records, immunization records, systems entry and analytical tools to monitor progress and coverage among different at-risk categories and facilitate vaccine delivery and timely reporting. G.3 Ensure measures are in place for data protection, and appropriate data governance regulation is in place to monitor legitimate, appropriate and proportionate use and processing of data which may be routinely collected and managed in health information systems. G.4 Produce and distribute monitoring tools to eligible vaccination providers, develop, test and roll-out any changes to electronic systems, provide training for use of these tools and processes to traditional and new providers. G.5 Ensure a mechanism with multiple intake points has been designed and is in place, and is operational for feedback and grievances in relation to the vaccine program. H.1 Establish/strengthen the national logistics working group with appropriate terms of reference and standard operating procedures to coordinate COVID-19 vaccines and ancillary products deployment. H.2 Map key roles and responsibilities needed for vaccine and ancillary products deployment; collect and confirm contact information for key personnel and facilities. H.3 Create a distribution strategy, including mapping the potential port(s) of entry, points of storage (stores) and stocking, and fallback facilities in the country with their respective cold chain storage (2-8C, -20C, -60/70C) and transportation capacity for vaccines and ancillary products, and ensure necessary human resource capacity is in place. H.4 Map and develop plan to provide for infrastructure needs, including for energy (primary and back-up power, especially in cold chain), IT/communications (including internet connectivity) and water. H.5 Assess dry storage and cold chain capacity and infrastructure needs at all levels with regards to the COVID-19 vaccines characteristics and fill the identified supply and logistics gaps. H.6 Provide COVID-appropriate standard operating procedures (SOPs), protocols, or guidelines for collection and disposal of medical waste, both hazardous and non-hazardous, to the relevant stakeholders. Assure that properly-licensed waste management providers (especially for hazardous waste storage, transportation and disposal) are identified and can be operationalized. H.7 Update and implement systems and protocols for tracking and monitoring the stock management and distribution of vaccines and key supplies through the Government's existing Vaccine Logistics Management and Information System (VLMIS), including operating procedures to reflect the characteristics of COVID-19 vaccines (i.e. vial size, VVM,...). H.8 Disseminate delivery and acceptance protocols, ensure monitoring arrangements are in place, and identify supervisory focal points at each facility. Establish security arrangements to ensure the integrity of COVID-19 vaccines and ancillary products throughout the supply chain. I.1 Ensure that guidelines, documented procedures and tools for planning and conducting vaccine pharmacovigilance activities (i.e. AEFI reporting, investigation, causality assessment, risk communication and response), have been developed and disseminated to surveillance facilities/sites. I.2 Ensure adequate and trained human resources are available to conduct surveillance of events attributable to vaccination. I.3 Expedite appropriate representation, well defined ToRs and training the AEFI committee to review COVID-19 Vaccine safety data (e.g., causality assessment of serious AEFI, clusters of AEFI, emerging safety concerns etc.). I.4 Identify provisions that require manufacturers to implement risk management plans and collect and report COVID-19 vaccine safety data to the NRA. I.5 Plan active surveillance of specific COVID-19 vaccine related adverse events. If this is not possible, develop provisions that allow reliance on active surveillance data, decisions, and information from other countries or regional or international bodies. I.6 Define roles and responsibilities and establish a coordination mechanism between relevant stakeholders (NRA, EPI, MAH, MOH, WHO and others) for exchange of COVID-19 Vaccine safety information. I.7 Identify and secure channels of data sharing mechanisms to share COVID-19 vaccine safety data and findings with relevant regional and international partners. I.8 Establish compensation schemes in the event that there are unintended health consequences as result of vaccines, including no-fault liability funds, and ensure that associated policies are in place. J.1 Design and distribute a social mobilization and engagement strategy/demand plan and information awareness program (including advocacy, communications, social mobilization, risk and safety comms, community engagement, and training) to generate confidence, acceptance and demand for COVID-19 vaccines, including for engaging with national and local media, NGOs, social platforms, etc. and human resources for community outreach and risk communication management that also explains how complaints may be lodged and how they will be resolved, are available at all levels. Must include crisis communications preparedness planning. J.2 Establish data collection systems, including 1) social media listening and rumor management, and 2) assessing behavioral and social data. J.3 Develop key messages and materials for public communications and advocacy, in alignment with demand plan. Status Sep-Oct 20 (Pre-planning Nov-Dec 20 Jan 21 Feb 21 Mar 21 Baseline) Action required to get to 'completed' or 'more than 90%' status (Gray cells are for optional completion) Administrative, Administrative, Medical supplies, organizational, regulatory organizational, regulatory equipment and contract and coordination actions at and coordination actions at services requirements Central level subnational level an 90%' status Financing n) Total financing needed to undertake the administrative actions, procure the medical Staffing and training supplies and equipment, and requirements hire and train staff to get to a 'completed' or 'more than 90%' status Inventory of immunization related documents during COVID19 Current December 2020 Global guidance documents Num Category Title Date 1. Planning for the deployment of WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) 1 Ongoing COVID-19 vaccines Dashboard 1. Planning for the deployment of Draft landscape of COVID-19 candidate 2 2-Oct-20 COVID-19 vaccines vaccines 1. Planning for the deployment of WHO Target Product Profiles for COVID-19 3 29-Apr-20 COVID-19 vaccines Vaccines 1. Planning for the deployment of Fair allocation mechanism for COVID-19 4 9-Sep-20 COVID-19 vaccines vaccines through the COVAX Facility WHO SAGE values framework for the 1. Planning for the deployment of 5 allocation and prioritization of COVID-19 13-Sep-20 COVID-19 vaccines vaccination WHO SAGE roadmap for prioritizing uses of 1. Planning for the deployment of 6 COVID-19 vaccines in the context of limited 13-Nov-20 COVID-19 vaccines supply Guidance on developing a national 1. Planning for the deployment of 7 deployment and vaccination plan for COVID- 16-Nov-20 COVID-19 vaccines 19 vaccines 1. Planning for the deployment of 8 COVAX on Gavi website Ongoing COVID-19 vaccines WHO documents on pandemic 1. Planning for the deployment of 9 preparedness and pandemic vaccine Various COVID-19 vaccines deployment 1. Planning for the deployment of 10 Active surveillance of adverse events 10-Jul-20 COVID-19 vaccines COVID-19 Vaccines: Safety Surveillance 1. Planning for the deployment of Manual Module: Establishing surveillance 11 Ongoing COVID-19 vaccines systems in countries using COVID-19 vaccines Immunization as an essential health service: guiding principles for 2. Immunization programme in the 12 immunization activities during the COVID- 10-Nov-20 context of COVID-19 19 pandemic and other times of severe disruption 2. Immunization programme in the FAQs: Immunization in the context of 13 16-Apr-20 context of COVID-19 COVID-19 pandemic Infection Prevention and Control guidance 2. Immunization programme in the 14 for Long-Term Care Facilities in the context 21-Mar-20 context of COVID-19 of COVID-19 2. Immunization programme in the 15 Mask use in the context of COVID-19 1-Dec-20 context of COVID-19 Community-based health care, including 2. Immunization programme in the 16 outreach and campaigns,in the context of 5-May-20 context of COVID-19 the COVID-19 pandemic Considerations for school-related public health measures in the context of COVID- 2. Immunization programme in the 17 19. Annex to Considerations in adjusting 10-May-20 context of COVID-19 public health and social measures in the context of COVID-19 Temperature-sensitive health products in the expanded programme on immunization cold chain: a WHO-UNICEF joint statement 2. Immunization programme in the 18 encouraging greater health commodity 19-Nov-20 context of COVID-19 supply chain integration for temperature- sensitive pharmaceuticals where appropriate COVID-19 Vaccination, Country Readiness 2. Immunization programme in the 19 and Delivery: Supply and Logistics 30-Nov-20 context of COVID-19 Guidance Framework for Decision-Making: 2. Immunization programme in the 20 Implementation of mass vaccination 22-May-20 context of COVID-19 campaigns during the COVID-19 pandemic 2. Immunization programme in the Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination 21 12-Apr-20 context of COVID-19 and COVID-19 Monitoring and Evaluation Framework COVID‑19 Strategic Preparedness and 22 3. COVID-19 response Response (SPRP) 22-May-20 23 3. COVID-19 response Clinical management of COVID-19 27-May-20 Maintaining essential health services in the 24 3. COVID-19 response COVID-19 context: Implementing the WHO 1-Jun-20 operational guidance Continuity of essential health services: 25 3. COVID-19 response 20-Nov-20 Facility assessment tool Maintaining surveillance of influenza and monitoring SARS-CoV-2: adapting Global 26 3. COVID-19 response Influenza Surveillance and Response 8-Nov-20 System (‎GISRS)‎and sentinel systems during the COVID-19 pandemic Polio Eradication Programme continuity 4. Polio programme in the context planning measures to ensure continuity of May 2020 27 of COVID-19 operations in the context of the COVID-19 (update) pandemic (May 2020) Interim Guidance for the Polio Surveillance 4. Polio programme in the context 28 Network in the context of Coronavirus 4-Jun-20 of COVID-19 (COVID 19) Interim Guidance for Frontline Workers on 4. Polio programme in the context 29 Safe Implemenation of H-T-H Vaccination 25-Jun-20 of COVID-19 campaigns t (COVID 19) Immunization in the context of the SARS- COV2 (COVID-19) pandemic Operational guidelines for National 30 5. Regional Documents Immunization Programs in the WHO 21-Apr-20 African Region IVD program, WHO AFRO Guidance on routine immunization 31 5. Regional Documents services during COVID-19 pandemic in the 20-Mar-20 WHO European Region Routine immunization services during the 32 5. Regional Documents 13-Apr-20 COVID-19 pandemic The Immunization Program in the Context 33 5. Regional Documents 26-Mar-20 of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Version 1 The Immunization Program in the Context 34 5. Regional Documents 24-Apr-20 of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Version 2 Vaccination of Newborns in the Context of 35 5. Regional Documents 19-May-20 the COVID-19 Pandemic Immunization throughout the Life Course 36 5. Regional Documents at the Primary Care Level in the Context of 17-Jun-20 the COVID-19 Pandemic 9 Link Type https://covid19.who.int/ Dashboard https://www.who.int/who-documents-detail/draft-landscape- Table of-covid-19-candidate-vaccines https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/who-target-product- profiles-for-covid-19- Technical vaccines#:~:text=This%20Target%20Product%20Profile%2 document 0(TPP,with%20rapid%20onset%20of%20immunity. https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/fair-allocation- Technical mechanism-for-covid-19-vaccines-through-the-covax-facility document https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-sage-values- Technical framework-for-the-allocation-and-prioritization-of-covid-19- document vaccination https://www.who.int/docs/default- source/immunization/sage/covid/sage-prioritization- Technical roadmap-covid19- document vaccines.pdf?Status=Temp&sfvrsn=bf227443_2&ua=1 https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-2019-nCoV- Guidelines Vaccine_deployment-2020.1 https://www.gavi.org/covax- facility#:~:text=COVAX%20is%20co%2Dled%20by,every% Website 20country%20in%20the%20world. https://www.who.int/influenza/preparedness/pandemic/en/ Website https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/333136/W WHO WER ER9528-eng-fre.pdf?ua=1 https://www.who.int/vaccine_safety/committee/Module_Est Guidelines ablishing_surveillance_systems.pdf?ua=1 https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/immunization-as-an- essential-health-service-guiding-principles-for- Technical immunization-activities-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-and- document other-times-of-severe-disruption https://www.who.int/publications-detail/immunization-in-the- FAQ context-of-covid-19-pandemic Interim Guidance https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/331508/WHO-2019-nCoV-IPC_long_term_care-2020.1-eng.pdf https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/advice-on-the-use-of- masks-in-the-community-during-home-care-and-in-healthcare- Interim Guidance settings-in-the-context-of-the-novel-coronavirus-(2019-ncov)- outbreak https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/331975 Interim Guidance Annex to Considerations in adjusting public https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/332052 health and social measures in the context of COVID- 19 https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/336748 Interim Guidance https://www.technet-21.org/en/library/main/6717-covid-19- vaccination,-country-readiness-and-delivery:-supply-and- Interim Guidance logistics-guidance https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/332159 Interim Guidance https://www.who.int/publications-detail/bacille-calmette- Scientific Brief gu%C3%A9rin-(bcg)-vaccination-and-covid-19 https://www.who.int/publications-detail/monitoring-and-evaluation- Guidelines framework https://www.who.int/publications-detail/clinical-management-of- Interim Guidance covid-19 https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-2019-nCoV- Interim Guidance essential-health-services-2020.1 https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/WHO-2019-nCoV- Interim Guidance HCF_assessment-EHS-2020.1 https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/336689?show=full Interim Guidance http://polioeradication.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/COVID- Interim Guidance POL-programme-continuity-planning-20200325.pdf https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-POLIO-20.04 Interim Guidance http://polioeradication.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Interim- guidelines-for-frontline-workers-on-safe-implementation-of-house- Interim Guidance to-house-vaccination-campaigns.pdf https://lnct.global/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/WHO- AFRO_Operational-guidance-on-Immunisation-in-the-context-of- Interim Guidance the-COVID-19-pandemic_21-April-2020.pdf http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/communicable- diseases/hepatitis/publications/2020/guidance-on-routine- Interim Guidance immunization-services-during-covid-19-pandemic-in-the-who- european-region,-20-march-2020 https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/331925 Interim Guidance https://www.paho.org/en/documents/immunization-program- Interim Guidance context-covid-19-pandemic-march-2020 https://www.paho.org/en/documents/immunization-program- Interim Guidance context-covid-19-pandemic-version-2-24-april-2020 https://www.paho.org/en/documents/vaccination-newborns- Interim Guidance context-covid-19-pandemic-19-may-2020 https://www.paho.org/en/documents/immunization-throughout-life- Interim Guidance course-primary-care-level-context-covid-19-pandemic Description Issuing Dept Provides data on COVID-19 cases and deaths by country and by region WHO Global Provides information on the landscape of COVID-19 candidate vaccines. These landscape documents have been prepared by the World Health Organization (WHO) for information purposes only concerning the 2019-2020 global of the novel coronavirus. Inclusion of any WHO Global particular product or entity in any of these landscape documents does not constitute, and shall not be deemed or construed as, any approval or endorsement by WHO of such product or entity (or any of its businesses or activities). This Target Product Profile (TPP) describes the preferred and minimally acceptable profiles for human vaccines for long term protection of persons at high ongoing risk of COVID-19 such WHO Global as healthcare workers and for reactive use in outbreak settings with rapid onset of immunity. The ACT-Accelerator was set up to contain the COVID-19 pandemic faster and more efficiently by ensuring that successful diagnostics, vaccines and treatments are shared WHO Global equitably across all countries. Key to achieving that goal is the design and implementation of a Fair Allocation Framework. This Values Framework offers guidance globally on the allocation of COVID-19 vaccines between countries, and to offer guidance nationally on the prioritization of groups for vaccination within countries while supply is limited. The Framework is intended to be IVB helpful to policy makers and expert advisors at the global, regional and national level as they make allocation and prioritization decisions about COVID-19 vaccines. This document has been endorsed by the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE). Given the urgency and wide-ranging effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, SAGE has developed an approach to help inform deliberation around the range of recommendations that may be IVB appropriate under different epidemiologic and vaccine supply conditions The Guidance on National Deployment and Vaccination Planning is intended to help countries IVB develop their plan for COVID-19 vaccine introduction. COVAX is co-led by Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and WHO. Its aim is to accelerate the development and manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines, and Gavi to guarantee fair and equitable access for every country in the world. WHO guidance and documents on pandemic preparedness and vaccine deployment. WHO Global Global Advisory Committe on Vaccine Safety, WHO Weekely Epidemiological Record WHO Global Vaccine Safety Surveillance guidelines WHO Global This document, endorsed by the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization, provides guiding principles to support countries in their decision-making regarding provision or resumption of immunization services during severe disruptive events such as COVID-19, IVB natural disasters or humanitarian emergencies. It incorporates the Immunization Agenda 2030 principles of being people-centred, country-owned, partnership-based and data-guided These FAQs accompany WHO’s Guiding principles for immunization activities during the IVB COVID-19 pandemic Provide annual influenza vaccination and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines to employees and staff, according to local policies, as these infections are important contributors to IPC/HQ respiratory mortality in older people. This document provides updated guidance on mask use in health care and community settings, and during home care for COVID-19 cases. It is intended for policy makers, public health and infection prevention and control professionals, health care managers and health workers. IPC/HQ The Annex provides advice on how to manufacture non-medical masks. It is intended for those making non-medical masks at home and for mask manufacturers. Immunization module is a module (page 31), among other essential health services .This joint WHO, UNICEF and IFRC guidance addresses the role of community-based health care in the pandemic context. It includes practical recommendations for decision makers to help keep Integrated communities and health workers safe, to sustain essential services at the community level, Health Services and to ensure an effective response to COVID-19. Using this comprehensive and coordinated approach will help countries strengthen the resilience of community-based health services throughout the pandemic, into early recovery and beyond. Ensure that school entry immunization checks are in place. Check vaccination status for outbreak-prone vaccine preventable diseases (e.g. measles) and remind parents of the MCA importance of ensuring their children are up to date with all eligible vaccinations. For school- based immunization programmes, ensure there a plan for catch-up vaccination if needed. The WHO and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), reiterate the value of safe, feasible, and cost-effective integration of temperaturesensitive health products into the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) health supply chains. This interim guidance provides IVB further clarity by highlighting integration as a practical solution and provides reference to planning tools to design and implement an integrated cold chain. The COVAX Supply and Logistics workstream lead by UNICEF, Gavi and WHO have released a working copy of the COVID-19 Vaccination, Country Readiness & Delivery: Supply and Logistics Guidance. Countries might find this Guide useful when developing and strengthening their supply chain strategies to receive, store, distribute and manage the COVID-19 vaccines WHO/UNICEF and their ancillary products, in line with their national deployment and vaccination plan (NDVP). The document also provides links to the different tools and resources to aid countries in performing assessment, planning and capacity-building activities In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, this document: I.Outlines a common framework for decision-making for the conduct of preventive and outbreak response campaigns II. Offers principles to consider when deliberating the implementation of a mass vaccination campaigns IVB for prevention of increased risk of VPD/HID among susceptible populations; III. Details risks and benefits of conducting outbreak-response vaccination campaigns to respond to VPD/HID outbreaks. There is no evidence that the Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine (BCG) protects people against infection with COVID-19 virus. Two clinical trials addressing this question are underway, and WHO will evaluate the evidence when it is available. In the absence of evidence, WHO does IVB not recommend BCG vaccination for the prevention of COVID-19. WHO continues to recommend neonatal BCG vaccination in countries or settings with a high incidence of tuberculosis. The COVID 19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP) Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (COVID 19 M&E Framework) lists key public health and essential health services and systems indicators to monitor preparedness, response, and situations during the COVID 19 pandemic. Indicators have been grouped around nine pillars and one thematic area. WHO Global Immunization indicators, in the ninth pillar - Maintaining essential health services and systems include (i) DTP3 vaccination coverage in children under 12 months of age (ii) Percentage of countries where at least one VPD-immunization campaign was affected (suspended or postponed partially or fully) by COVID 19. At the time of discharge, the patient’s ongoing primary health care needs should be reviewed, including ensuring an up-to-date immunization status. This is especially important for children Clinical Group who may have missed immunizations. If needed, individuals should be offered referrals for /HQ immunization services. This document expands on the original operational guidance on maintaining essential health services during an outbreak. It provides implementation guidance on a set of targeted immediate actions that countries should consider at national, sub-national and local levels to Integrated reorganize and maintain access to high-quality, essential health services. This document Health Services outlines needed adaptations to keep people safe, maintain continuity of essential services, and ensure effective response to COVID-19. The Continuity of essential health services: Facility Assessment Tool can be used by countries to rapidly assess the capacity of health facilities to maintain the provision of essential health Essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic. It can help to alert the authorities and other Health Services stakeholders about where service delivery and utilization may require modification and/or investment This document is an update of the interim guidance entitled Operational considerations for COVID-19 surveillance using GISRS, published on 26 March 2020, and of the interim WHO Global guidance Preparing GISRS for the upcoming influenza seasons during the COVID-19 pandemic – practical considerations, published on 26 May 2020 The purpose of this document is to provide guidance to polio programme continuity planning in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Its intended users are the polio programme planners and managers in the GPEI target countries and regional offices. Considering the global nature Polio of the polio eradication programme, it also provides recommendations for the areas of work relevant to the global level planning. The document aims to provide global guidance to Polio Surveillance activities in the context of the COVID 19 pandemic. It comes as a complement of the Polio Eradication Programme Polio continuity Planning and aligns with the full support that the GPEI has announced to the COVID 19 pandemic. The purpose of this document is to provide specific guidance to national and sub-national programme managers who will be supporting frontline workers for the safe implementation of Polio house-to-house polio immunization campaigns in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. These guidelines are intended to operationalize the global guidance on immunization during COVID-19 pandemic in the African Region and attempt to outline the key principles and the recommended activities for National Immunization Programs (NIP) to mitigate the risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. These guidelines will be regularly revised and updated as the IVD/AFRO epidemiological situation of COVID-19 evolves. The guidelines are expected to be used by NIP, local partners, and stakeholders involved in the planning, implementation and monitoring & evaluation of immunization and vaccine preventable disease control programs. The current COVID-19 situation and health system capacities vary widely across the WHO European Region, and this situation is rapidly evolving. Approaches to sustain high levels of routine immunization coverage will also vary among countries. In planning these measures, due consideration should be given to minimizing the excess risk of morbidity and mortality EURO from vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) that would result if immunization services are disrupted. This guidance provides all possible efforts that should be made by the Ministry of Health to equitably sustain high population immunity. This document provides guidance to Member States on how to prioritize and adapt immunization services during the Covid-19 pandemic, and steps to mitigate the impact of the WPRO pandemic on vaccine-preventable diseases. This document provides guidance regarding the operation of immunization programs in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It contains recommendations on vaccination and epidemiological surveillance for vaccine- preventable diseases (VPDs) in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, in the Region of the PAHO Americas, which were consulted on by members of PAHO’s Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on Vaccine-preventable Diseases, and are aligned with recommendations from WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on immunization. Objective: Provide guidance regarding the operation of immunization programs in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.This publication updates the previous publication from 26 March PAHO 2020. These preliminary recommendations provide guidance regarding vaccination of newborns with hepatitis B and BCG vaccines in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to maintain PAHO high vaccination coverage. Provide recommendations regarding vaccination as an essential service at the primary care PAHO level in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Equivalence table of new VIRAT/VRAF 2.0 with old VIRAT and VRAF Indicator Codes VIRAT/VRAF 2.0 Old VIRAT Indicator Category VRAF Indicator Code Indicator Code Code A.1 A.1 A.1.4 A.2 A.2 A.3 A.3 A. PLANNING & A.4 A.4, A.5 COORDINATION A.5 A.7 B.1.1, B.1.2 A.6 B.1.3 A.7 A.1.1 A.8 A.6 B.1 B.1, B.2, B.3, B.4 A.4.1 B. BUDGETING B.1, B.2, B.3, B.4 A.4.2 B.2 C.1 C.1 C.2 C.2 A.2.1 C. REGULATORY C.3 C.3 A.2.2, A.2.3 C.4 C.4 C.5 C.5 D. D.1 D.1 PRIORITIZATION, D.2 D.2 A.1.3 TARGETING & D.3 D.3 E.1 E.1 B.1.2 E. SERVICE E.2 E.2, E.3 A.3.2, B.2.1 C.2.1 DELIVERY E.3 H.5 A.2.8, A.1.2 E.4 A.2.6 F.1 F.1 C.2.3 F. TRAINING & F.2 F.2 SUPERVISION F.3 E.4 A.2.7 F.4 F.3 G.1 G.1 A.3.5 G.2 G.2 D.1.1, C.2.2 G. MONITORING G.3 A.2.4 & EVALUATION G.4 G.3 G.5 A.3.4 H.1 H.1 H.2 H.2 H. VACCINE, H.3 H.3 B.2.1, B.2.2 COLD CHAIN, H.4 D.2.1, D.2.2 LOGISTICS & H.5 H.4 A.3.1, B.2.2 INFRASTRUCTURE H.6 H.6 B.3.1, B.3.2, B.3.3 H.7 H.7 B.2.3 H.8 H.8 C.2.4 I.1 I.1 C.3.1 I.2 I.2 C.3.1 I.3 I.3 C.3.2 I. SAFETY I.4 I.4 SURVEILLANCE I.5 I.5 I.6 I.6 I.7 I.7 I.8 A.2.5, C.3.3 J. DEMAND J.1 J.1 C.1.1 GENERATION & J.2 J.2 C.1.2 COMMUNICATIO J. DEMAND GENERATION & COMMUNICATIO J.3 J.3 C.1.3