Members of the South-East Asia Region Immunization Technical Advisory Group, Chairpersons and Representatives of National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups from Member States, technical experts, programme managers, representatives of partner agencies and the vaccine manufacturing industry, ladies and gentlemen,
A very warm welcome to this 11th meeting of the South-East Asia Region Immunization Technical Advisory Group (ITAG).
We undertake this meeting at a critical moment for the present and future health and well-being of all people in the South-East Asia Region, as across the world.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to accelerate globally. Our Region is no exception.
To date, the Region has reported more than 1.4 million cases and more than 34 000 deaths. This accounts for approximately 10% and 5% of the global burden of cases and deaths, respectively.
WHO continues to support its Member States in the Region to respond to the pandemic, with a focus on three strategic priorities: controlling and suppressing spread, strengthening and maintaining health services, and empowering individuals and communities to stay safe, healthy and well.
Within this approach, maintaining immunization is a core priority.
I welcome the ITAG’s focus on identifying priority actions to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on immunization systems. Your commitment to support the achievement of the milestones and goals outlined in the South-East Asia Regional Vaccine Action Plan, which is now in its final year of implementation, is commendable.
The Region has in recent years made substantial progress against vaccine-preventable diseases, which we cannot afford to be halted or reversed.
For more than seven years, Member States have maintained the Region’s polio-free status.
For more than five years, they have maintained the elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus.
Five countries in the Region have eliminated measles. Earlier this month, two countries – Maldives and Sri Lanka – were verified to have eliminated rubella.
All countries in the Region are striving to eliminate both measles and rubella by 2023, and have made significant progress, despite global trends.
Regional coverage of the DPT3 vaccine has crossed the 90% mark. Nine countries in the Region have now achieved the target nationally.
All countries have introduced at least one new or under-utilized vaccine in recent years and continue to add to their basket.
The Region’s progress has been significant, and has vastly improved health and well-being across the Region, especially for the most vulnerable.
But we continue to face several key challenges, the most prominent being gaps in programme performance at the subnational level.
I cannot emphasize enough the need to secure whole-of-government, whole-of-society commitment and buy-in to immunization.
As we continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, mobilizing such commitment is more important than ever.
Across the world, the pandemic has caused immense disruption to health care services, including immunization, particularly at the primary level.
Last week, WHO and UNICEF released preliminary data that point to a substantial global decline in the number of children receiving three doses of the DPT3 vaccine from January through April.
It was the first time in 28 years that such a reduction had been recorded.
A global survey published in May found that more than half of all countries reported moderate-to-severe disruptions, or a total suspension of vaccination services, in March and April.
Emerging immunity gaps, including in our Region, are of great concern, and will impact the most vulnerable first.
Rapid and sustained action is needed to prevent avoidable disease and death.
I commend programme managers and health workers across the Region for their dedicated efforts to revive and maintain immunization services.
All Member States have now developed guidelines and action plans to maintain immunization and surveillance throughout the pandemic.
As the plans are implemented, ongoing monitoring is needed to ensure that immunity gaps do not widen. Focus should be given to areas where coverage has in the past been low.
I am pleased that Nepal resumed and completed a planned mass vaccination campaign, delivering measles and rubella-containing vaccine to more than 2.5 million children.
Community demand was critical to the success of the campaign, which was carried out amid strict hygiene and physical distancing measures.
Myanmar and Sri Lanka have now also resumed immunization services, and are rapidly closing gaps in both vaccination coverage and surveillance.
From across the Region, I continue to hear of how programme managers, health workers and volunteers are adapting to meet the many demands of our new COVID-19 normal.
Your work to identify key priorities moving forward will help maintain this momentum, allowing all Member States to protect and defend their many gains and accelerate progress towards the Region’s Flagship Priorities, WHO’s “triple billion” targets and Sustainable Development Goal 3 – health and well-being for all at all ages.
Distinguished participants,
Work on the development and deployment of a COVID-19 vaccine is progressing.
In April, WHO launched the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator.
The ACT Accelerator brings together key global health actors, private sector partners and other stakeholders to hasten the development and production of COVID-19 essential health technologies, including vaccines, and to help guarantee equitable access.
The Accelerator’s vaccine pillar has three priorities: to ensure that vaccines are developed as rapidly as possible; to ensure that vaccines are manufactured at the right volumes, without compromising safety; and to ensure vaccines are delivered to those who need them most.
I am pleased to share that 23 candidate vaccines are already in human clinical trials.
Earlier this month, the COVAX Facility was established to manage the diverse portfolio of COVID-19 vaccines currently being developed, and to ensure equitable access based on the fair allocation of available vaccines.
The Facility is a multi-stakeholder endeavour led by WHO, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations. WHO’s primary role is to develop an equitable allocation policy and to oversee vaccine regulation and safety.
Should a safe and effective vaccine be approved in the anticipated timeframe, 2 billion doses are targeted to be delivered by the end of 2021, of which 50% will go to low- and middle-income countries.
As research and development continues, country readiness to receive and deploy a vaccine must be strengthened. Work to do so should begin as soon as possible.
Priority should be given to planning supply chain management, vaccine delivery and communication, strengthening surveillance for adverse events and optimizing regulatory pathways for vaccine licensure.
I urge you to provide support as and where needed.
Our challenges are indeed many, but I am certain that together we can overcome each and every one.
In the coming meeting, your deliberations must be thorough, and your approach innovative.
Given the vast expertise gathered, I am certain that your guidance will be sound.
I wish you all a productive meeting and look forward to being apprised of the outcomes.
Thank you.