Effective pandemic influenza response hinges on access to vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostic tools, PPE, and other essential products. Ensuring equitable access, allocation, and deployment requires continuous planning aligned with strategic advancements, policy development, technological breakthroughs, and evolving capacities. Under the ‘Access to Countermeasures’ output of the PIP Framework, both upstream and downstream efforts are essential. Upstream efforts focus on managing global access, allocation, and deployment of pandemic products, including the operationalization of Standard Material Transfer Agreements 2. Downstream activities aim to strengthen country capacities for deploying and distributing pandemic products, ensuring robust and efficient response capabilities. Periodic testing of these approaches guarantees they remain fit for purpose.
Managing global access, allocation and deployment of pandemic products
Managing global access, allocation, and deployment of pandemic products is essential for an effective response. Updating plans and approaches cognizant of the full health emergency preparedness and response framework ensures readiness to access, allocate and deploy pandemic influenza products, including those secured through Standard Material Transfer Agreement 2s. Regular exercises with stakeholders and deployment partners are crucial to test and refine these plans, guaranteeing timely and equitable distribution during a pandemic. This preparedness is key to protecting global health and saving lives.
Relevant publications
Report of the meeting with industry to discuss common activities for deployment of pandemic influenza response products, Geneva, Switzerland 3−4 October 2019 and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 24 October 2019
Report of the WHO Pandemic Influenza A(H1N1) Vaccine Deployment Initiative
Strengthening country capacities to deploy and distribute pandemic products
Supporting countries to bolster their capacities and capabilities for introducing pandemic products entails providing technical guidance, tools, and assistance across various stages, including development, updating, testing, and implementation of pertinent national medical countermeasures plans like deployment and vaccination plans. These collaborative endeavors involve engaging diverse sectors, including emergency coordination authorities, regulatory bodies, immunization and clinical programs, risk communication specialists, community engagement experts, infodemic management professionals, logistic managers, as well as partners from civil society and industry. Through these concerted national efforts, global readiness and resilience are fortified amidst health emergencies, safeguarding communities and preserving population health and wellbeing.
An innovative approach to simulation exercises
An innovation within the PIP Framework is the creation of PIPDeploy, a cutting-edge tabletop training and simulation exercise. This revolutionary approach integrates wargaming methodology to simulate real-world scenarios, providing a dynamic platform for identifying and rectifying bottlenecks and failure points in vaccine delivery during public health emergencies. By incorporating game design elements, PIPDeploy not only enhances user engagement but also offers a highly interactive and immersive experience for participants.
A description of PIP Deploy is available here: PIPDeploy: Development and implementation of a gamified table top simulation exercise to strengthen national pandemic vaccine preparedness and readiness
Testimonials on PIP Deploy from participants to the national workshop National Workshop for developing National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for Vaccines against Pandemic Influenza and other Respiratory Viruses of Pandemic Potential within the context of Planning for Respiratory Pathogen Pandemics, La Paz, Bolivia – March 2023.
Relevant publications
Guidance documentation
Guidance on development and implementation of a national deployment and vaccination plan for vaccines against pandemic influenza and other respiratory viruses of pandemic potential
Development and Implementation of a National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for Pandemic Influenza Vaccines - Guidance - 17 April 2012
Checklist - Development and Implementation of a National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for Pandemic Influenza Vaccines
Pandemic influenza deployment workshop and exercise: ensuring timely access, distribution, and delivery of pandemic supplies, meeting report, Hanoi, Viet Nam, 11–12 December 2019
WHO Pandemic Vaccine Deployment Workshop, Lagos, Nigeria, 4−6 November 2019
Pandemic Vaccine Deployment Workshop, Dushanbe, Tajikistan, 30 April–2 May 2019
Report of the Pandemic Influenza Vaccine Deployment Workshop, Washington DC, United States of America, 5−7 February 2019
Training materials related publications:
News
- National Deployment and Vaccination Plan Against Pandemic Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses Workshop in Guatemala (La OPS/OMS fortalece la preparación y respuesta a epidemias y pandemias por patógenos respiratorios en Guatemala con la realización del ejercicio de simulación del Plan Nacional de Despliegue y Vacunación. - OPS/OMS | Organización Panamericana de la Salud (paho.org))
- National Deployment and Vaccination Plan Against Pandemic Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses Workshop in Suriname (https://www.paho.org/en/news/23-3-2023-national-deployment-and-vaccination-plan-against-pandemic-influenza-and-other )