The COVID-19 vaccine rollout has required unprecedented levels of in depth and near real-time implementation data to support programmatic decision-making. Governments, international agencies, and other partners involved in the rollout at all levels have had to rapidly develop both a) monitoring frameworks and b) data systems and infrastructure for COVID-19 vaccination, whether by building on existing resources or by developing new ones. Due to the epidemiology of COVID-19 infection, this has meant monitoring vaccine uptake in new population groups and reporting key data at increased frequencies, as compared with typical practices under routine immunization.
As a result of continued evolution in the pandemic situation, COVID-19 vaccine implementation monitoring needs have shifted. Key data required in preparing for vaccine introduction are no longer needed on a regular basis. At the same time, other data have become more important, such as those related to measuring vaccination in high priority groups and booster dose rollout. Still, new data may be required. As the vaccine rollout has progressed, both monitoring frameworks and data system strengthening efforts have continued to evolve organically and, at times, independently across engaged parties to meet these changing monitoring needs.
Now, the vaccine rollout is entering a new stage, integration, which will have significant consequences both for how COVID-19 vaccination is monitored and for how monitoring systems are structured. As engaged parties begin the shift to sustainable COVID-19 vaccination as an integral part of national immunization programs, primary health care, and other relevant health services, monitoring activities, too, will need to merge with existing practices, while exploring enhancement of such practices where feasible. This will mean reviewing and, in some cases, restructuring both immunization monitoring frameworks and data systems, building on lessons learned and best practices from the COVID-19 vaccine rollout to date.
Given the changing monitoring landscape, it is essential that engaged parties a) take stock of recent developments, b) align on the way forward on both COVID-19 vaccination monitoring and related system strengthening, and c) plan phase-over to and enhancement of existing processes. To accomplish this, the World Health Organization (WHO), alongside its partners Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and UNICEF, and the COVID-19 Vaccine Delivery Partnership (CoVDP), is organizing a global technical convening on COVID-19 vaccination monitoring and related system strengthening. In permitting a comprehensive stock take and joint planning for a way forward, the convening aims to promote alignment in the approaches and support provided by engaged parties. The global convening is designed to bring together COVID-19 vaccination monitoring and related system strengthening technical focal points from WHO and UNICEF, both at HQ and regional levels, from key sector partner, and from select country representatives.
Objectives:
1. Answer open questions in the COVID-19 vaccination monitoring and related system strengthening space, notably:
a. For monitoring:
i. To what programmatic ends are we still monitoring COVID-19 vaccination?
ii. Are there changes / additions to the Monitoring Metrics and related guidance documents , that need to be made for monitoring in 2023, separating minimum and optional data?
iii. How will monitoring priorities shift in light of possible policy and programmatic scenarios?
iv. How will we monitor integration of COVID-19 vaccine into national immunization programs?
v. How will COVID-19 vaccination monitoring phase into and, if possible, enhance existing immunization monitoring processes at the global and regional levels?
b. For systems strengthening:
i. What investments in COVID-19 vaccination monitoring systems have already taken place and what practices to continue and to cease can be identified from such activities?
ii. According to and along which pathway are we supporting countries through COVID-19-related activities aimed at strengthening immunization monitoring systems?
iii. What pragmatic investments need to be prioritized in the next 12-24 months to support COVID-19 vaccination monitoring, while synergistically supporting the broader immunization system?
iv. How will COVID-19-related immunization monitoring systems strengthening activities phase into and, if possible, enhance existing immunization monitoring system strengthening activities?
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[1] WHO, Monitoring Metrics Related to the Global Covid-19 Vaccination Strategy in a Changing World: July 2022 update, https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/monitoring-metrics-related-to-the-global-covid-19-vaccination-strategy-in-a-changing-world--july-2022-update
[2] WHO & UNICEF, Monitoring COVID-19 vaccination: considerations for the collection and use of vaccination data: interim guidance, 3 March 2021, https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/339993
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