WHO and partners have developed a new strategic framework with the National Immunization Strategy (NIS) project, following adoption of the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030) to guide immunization stakeholders action over the next decade. IA2030 emphasizes the need to consider immunization as an entry point for strengthening Primary Health Care (PHC). Consequently the NIS is designed for better integration of immunization with other health interventions, UHC targets and national planning cycles; focus on long term goals with intermediary objectives and prioritized strategies; country ownership with inclusive design processes; tailored approach to local and national context; and increasing reliance on domestic sources in funding negotiations. 

The NIS builds on the experience of cMYP (in use by countries since 2005). It is a streamlined planning document that focuses on a strategic period of 5 years. Specifically, the NIS defines:

1. The immunization vision to be achieved over the long term (generally 10 years).
2. Specific objectives to be achieved at the end of the strategic period (5 years). These are the intermediate outcomes along the way to achieving the vision.
3. Priority strategies, consisting of a costed set of interventions to achieve the objectives, as well as the measures to mitigate against risks associated with the selected interventions.

The NIS guidelines were published in August 2021 and are part of a set of documents including:

1. NIS Guidelines: a step-by-step guide for country stakeholders on how to develop an NIS (also available in French, Spanish and in Russian)
2. NIS FAQs: further details and descriptions, including definitions of key concepts and terms (also available in French and in Russian)
3. NIS Annexes: further supporting documents, including templates and country examples, regularly updated
4. NIS Costing Approach (NIS.COST): Developed by UNICEF, a Google sheet application to support the estimation of NIS resource requirements to be available shortly at immunizationeconomics.org/unicef-niscost 
5. Annual Operational Planning (AOP) guidelines: guidance and tools to support the transition from the NIS into actionable tasks to be available shortly at https://immunizationeconomics.org/unicef-national-planning-and-budgeting
   

Comprehensive Multi-Year Plan for Immunization - WHO-UNICEF cMYP Guidelines and Tools remain available here