Milestones :: Perspectives
Launch of forum with partners to discuss the future decade of immunization
WHO
19 March 2019 – Global health partners are in Geneva this week, at a 3-day meeting co-organized by WHO to co-develop a new vision and strategy for vaccines and immunization covering the period 2021-2030.
“WHO is very pleased to be leading this effort in partnership with all stakeholders, working towards creating a new vision and strategy for immunization,” said Dr Peter Salama, Executive Director, Universal Health Coverage/Life Course. “And with the end goal of having a clear operational and resource plan for health impact in countries.”
The keynote speakers at the launch event were:
:: H.E. Maria Farani Azevêdo, Ambassador of Brazil at the United Nations in Geneva
:: Kate Gilmore, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights
:: Bernhard Kowatsch, Head of Innovation Accelerator, UN World Food Programme
The meeting participants included representatives from academia, global immunization and broader health partnerships, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), donor agencies, Ministries of Health, industry, private sector, research institutes, and multilateral organizations.
The new plan aims to provide a unified vision and approach for vaccines and immunization, with clear strategies and tactics that sets a new compelling country-centric vision and provides direction for the global immunization community in the coming decade.
The plan will address new and emerging issues and harness new solutions in vaccines and immunization to re-ignite the importance of immunization in achieving the broader health agendas such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Primary Health Care (PHC).
“As you start your discussions on developing a new vaccines and immunization plan, my ask is that you take into account the experience of the BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – and the countries in the WHO Region of the Americas that have delivered good practices with access to and production of vaccines,” said Ambassador Farani Azevêdo, Ambassador of Brazil at the UN Mission in Geneva.
Six principles will guide the development of the new vaccines and immunization plan:
:: Country impact is at the centre of plan development;
:: Integrate novel ways of thinking and ensure broad engagement of stakeholders;
:: Collaboration is key while staying focused and practical;
: Incorporate lessons learned from previous plans and strategies;
:: Build on existing global health initiatives and partnerships; and
:: Showcase how next-generation immunization systems will contribute to and align with broader health agendas like SDGs, UHC and PHC.
“People must be at the centre of healthcare and their free and equal rights to essential healthcare services such as vaccinations must be observed throughout their life-course, without discrimination,” said Ms Kate Gilmore, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations. “There is no such thing as a right to refuse vaccines when the consequences of doing so is to be borne by others and undermine the rights of others to health, as recognized in the International Human Rights Framework.”
“It is critical to bring innovation and accelerators to vaccines and immunization, as you move forward in developing your plan,” said Bernhard Kowatsch, Head of Innovation Accelerator of the United Nations World Food Programme. Mr Kowatsch shared a case study which tackled information gaps and inefficiencies in analysing data via a technological tool that has been piloted in El Salvador and adopted in South Sudan, Tajikistan and Uganda.
Following this co-creation forum, a comprehensive plan will be developed through a highly collaborative process, incorporating inputs from partners and stakeholders and guidance from relevant advisory groups over the coming months.
The final plan will be submitted to the World Health Assembly for discussion and endorsement by all WHO Member States in May 2020 and for implementation shortly thereafter.
vaccines and global health :: ethics and policy 
