Azerbaijan has made remarkable progress in enhancing its immunization services in the last 3 years thanks to a procurement effort, led by WHO and funded by the European Union (EU), to strengthen the country’s cold chain system through improved vaccine storage, transportation, handling and management. The strategic provision of 476 vaccine-specific refrigerators and 25 vaccine-specific freezers, along with necessary spare parts and voltage stabilizers, 622 vaccine carriers, 70 cold boxes, and 3 refrigerated vehicles, each with a loading capacity of 3 tonnes, ensures that vaccines are kept within an acceptable temperature range until they reach the intended recipients.
This provision is part of a wider WHO project, funded by the EU, to strengthen routine immunization systems in the EU’s Eastern Partnership countries. The cold chain system guarantees that vaccines do not lose potency, which might cause them to fail to trigger immune responses and render them ineffective in protecting recipients against vaccine-preventable diseases.
From inventory assessment to strategic procurement
Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Health (MoH) carried out an inventory and needs assessment of the country’s vaccine cold chain and immunization services in 2022, with WHO support. The study used the web-based inventory and gap analysis tool introduced by WHO. The MoH collected facility-based data on infrastructure, target population, provided services, and cold chain equipment status, also taking into consideration new vaccines to be introduced into Azerbaijan’s immunization schedule in the near future.
The country’s immunization system operates on a 3-tier structure: national storage facility, followed by district storage facilities, and health facilities as immunization service providers. The comprehensive procurement effort efficiently filled capacity gaps, achieving 100% reliable storage capacity at subnational level, and covering up to 70% of priority gaps at facility level. This improved accessibility across the country by significantly amplifying Azerbaijan’s capability to store, transport and handle vaccines under optimal conditions.
“Cold chain is a key element for the safety and quality of vaccines. By strengthening the cold chain system, we ensure the integrity of immunization programmes and safeguard public health,” said Nazifa Mursalova, Head of the Department of Public Health and Disease Control at the MoH of Azerbaijan.
A digital leap and skill-building initiative
The project also contributed to the digitalization of the country’s cold chain inventory system, including the delivery of 2276 electronic temperature monitoring devices (fridge tags), 3000 freeze indicators, and a computerized remote temperature monitoring system. This digital transformation allows for more rigorous management, monitoring, and tracking of vaccines across the supply chain, reducing the likelihood of stockouts and minimizing wastage.
Acknowledging the importance of skill development among health workers, the project conducted cold chain inventory training courses, resulting in 12 newly qualified master trainers. These trainers then proceeded to disseminate knowledge and best practices among peers across the country, ensuring a sustainable approach to maintaining the cold chain system’s integrity.
As a resource for health workers, video tutorials have also been translated by WHO and posted on a national health authorities’ website to guide users in setting up and using the newly acquired equipment. These resources are crucial for ensuring continuous monitoring of vaccine storage conditions on all levels of the cold chain system.
To further increase the efficiency of immunization services, 260 units of IT office equipment have been procured to enable real-time data management and immediate response capabilities, further enhancing the efficiency of immunization services.