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Background/Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic presented an urgent global need to quickly vaccinate health workers (HWs). We used this unique circumstance to assess whether mature influenza vaccination programs for HWs facilitated rapid deployment of COVID-19 vaccines in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: We used publicly available population-level COVID-19 vaccination coverage data from the World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 PowerBI Dashboard for 60 LMICs to investigate general population coverage with the COVID-19 vaccine over the first year of vaccine rollout. We also evaluated country-level policy and program data reported to the WHO–United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) electronic Joint Reporting Form (eJRF) in 2022 or earlier to determine if the presence of a mature (≥2 years of influenza vaccine introduction in HWs prior to 2019) HW influenza vaccination program was associated with more rapid COVID-19 vaccine deployment and/or pandemic preparedness. We used a mixed-effects beta regression model to investigate whether having a mature HW influenza vaccination program was associated with COVID-19 vaccination coverage levels and/or deployment timeliness. Finally, to provide a better understanding of the possible relationship between the presence of a mature HW influenza vaccination program and the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, we analyzed interview data collected during COVID-19 vaccine post-introduction evaluations (cPIEs). Results: Twenty-four of our study countries (40%) had mature HW influenza vaccination programs prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and 16 (27%) participated in cPIEs. The overall adjusted mean general-population COVID-19 vaccination coverage at 12 months post-deployment in countries with mature HW influenza vaccination programs was 46% (95% CI: (35%, 56%)), compared with 25% (95% CI: (19%, 32%)) in countries without such programs. Vaccination coverage was 2.5 times higher in countries with mature programs (adjusted odds ratio 2.5, 95% CI: (1.5, 4.5); p = 0.001). Conclusions: Our analysis suggests that mature influenza vaccination programs for HWs were associated with timelier and more complete COVID-19 vaccination rollout.
Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a mosquito-borne neglected tropical disease targeted by the World Health Organization (WHO) for global elimination as a public health problem. Sixteen Pacific Island countries and territories were historically endemic, and eight have now met the WHO criteria for elimination as a public health problem. Elimination as a public health problem does not imply zero transmission. Rather, it denotes that LF prevalence has been reduced below a defined threshold at which community transmission can be sustained. Following validation of elimination, the WHO recommends post-validation surveillance (PVS) to detect potential re-emergence of LF as a public health problem. However, implementing PVS is challenging in Small Island Developing States with dispersed populations, limited workforce capacity, resource constraints, and competing health priorities. The 'Voices and Visions: Building Partnerships for Integrated Serosurveillance of LF and Other Infectious Diseases in the Pacific Islands' meeting was held in Brisbane, Australia, from 8-10 July 2025. Fifty-one delegates, including Pacific LF programme managers, WHO representatives, global health partners, and academic researchers, reviewed regional PVS progress, discussed the newly released WHO guidelines for the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of PVS, planned for PVS implementation, and explored novel multiplex bead assay (MBA) serological analysis methods to strengthen regional coordination for its development as a public health tool. Five broad themes emerged. First, the new WHO Monitoring and Epidemiological Assessment of Mass Drug Administration in the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis: A Manual for National Elimination Programmes, 2nd edn needs to be operationalised to meet decision-making needs across diverse Pacific settings. Second, integrating LF-PVS with existing surveys and health service activities could improve efficiency and long-term sustainability. Third, regional coordination and alignment of funding cycles will require high-level collaboration. Fourth, community engagement is essential to strengthen demand for PVS. Finally, while at an early stage and with further evidence needed, MBA laboratory methods hold promise for cost-effective, feasible integrated multi-pathogen serosurveillance.
The world has committed to ending viral hepatitis as a public health threat as part of sustainable development goal 3.3. World Health Organization (WHO) has developed Global Health Sector Strategies (GHSS 2022–2030) to provide guidance to countries to end viral hepatitis by 2030. India instituted the national program for prevention and control of viral hepatitis (National Viral Hepatitis Control Program, NVHCP) in 2018 in alignment with the global perspective and strategic framework. The Chennai Liver Foundation conducted the first Indian Hepatitis Summit 2025 as a collective movement towards a hepatitis-free India. The summit was conducted on January 17–18, 2025, at Chennai. Healthcare professionals, policymakers, advocates, researchers, and civil society representatives gathered to share successes, discuss barriers, and address the urgent challenges of viral hepatitis and promote collaborative efforts to combat this silent epidemic in India. The meeting was attended by 54 program faculty and 275 delegates from government agencies, national and international organizations, and public and private hospitals. The two-day agenda included 14 sessions, with 46 talks and four panel discussions. The summit gathered important lessons from global initiatives, surveyed the current landscape of viral hepatitis in India, shared the best practices from some parts of world including India, identified barriers to elimination initiatives, and discussed potential solutions to overcome these barriers. Discussions also included the developments in viral hepatitis screening, diagnosis, and treatment; the ways to tackle the stigma associated with the illness; and innovative measures to improve public health results. In collaboration with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE), the Chennai Liver Foundation launched the Hepat App and a Hepatitis Online Course. The summit served as a platform to raise awareness about the importance of prevention, early diagnosis, and effective treatment options; and to delineate future directions for viral hepatitis elimination in India.
BACKGROUND:Since January 2022, regional National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) workshops have been held for more than 50 countries to strengthen participants' understanding of NITAG functions, basic vaccinology, and the ability to make evidence-based decisions on vaccines. A midterm evaluation was conducted in select countries to assess impact and guide future workshop enhancements, ensuring content is tailored to country-specific needs and practical application of NITAG functions. METHODS:An online questionnaire was conducted between December 2023 and February 2024, targeting NITAGs from 12 workshops held 6-24 months earlier in the African (AFR) and Eastern Mediterranean (EMR) Regions. Each country submitted one consolidated response covering five sections: general information, basic NITAG functions, the evidence-to-recommendation (EtR) process, vaccinology, and training agenda. RESULTS:Of 28 NITAGs trained between February 2022 and August 2023, 21 (75%; 13/15 AFR, 8/13 EMR) participated in the evaluation survey. Most NITAGs (76%) participated in multi-country workshops, with median 10 individuals (range 2-22) per country. Following the workshops, 67% of NITAGs developed or revised key documents (e.g., standard operating procedures) and 50% updated other policies (e.g., conflict of interest). Among 19 NITAGs that attended the full EtR training, 11 completed the vaccine-specific EtR process started during the workshop (6 also applied the EtR process to additional vaccines). Among 15 NITAGs that attended vaccinology sessions, all reported applying the knowledge in their work. Respondents requested more time for evidence analysis and synthesis during future trainings. CONCLUSIONS:Post training evaluation of NITAG capacity-building workshops showed positive and sustained impact for operations, vaccinology, and the application of the EtR process for a vaccine policy question. Our findings suggest future workshops may be enhanced by requiring pre-training eLearning modules and strengthening indicators to monitor training quality and outcomes. Such improvements may help to reinforce NITAG capacity for evidence-informed immunization policy-making.
Seasonal influenza remains a significant global public health challenge, causing substantial morbidity and mortality each year and there remains a need for more effective and durable influenza vaccines. To direct and accelerate research efforts, a full value of vaccine assessment (FVVA) was initiated to quantify the value of next-generation, improved influenza vaccines and identify key challenges that may limit their uptake once available. The FVVA utilized a mixed-methods approach with rapid assessment of literature, stakeholder interviews, and surveys, and quantitative data analysis to estimate the full value of influenza vaccines with improved characteristics. These analyses found that if improved influenza vaccines are broadly employed, depending on their characteristics, using our demand forecast they could avert 6.6-18 billion additional influenza cases, 2.3-6.2 million additional influenza deaths, and 21-57 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) between 2025 and 2050 beyond those averted by current seasonal influenza vaccines. Under this scenario, introducing improved influenza vaccines could be cost-effective in 9-48 % of countries at the lowest assumed price point. However, uncertainties about price and future vaccine coverage may impact the potential cost-effectiveness. Furthermore, from the producer perspective, the FVVA highlighted the robust financial value proposition to develop and commercialize improved influenza vaccines, in both established and emerging markets. Strongly tiered prices could make these vaccines cost-effective in more countries and boost impact further. To ensure that improved influenza vaccines achieve the greatest public health benefit, effective collaboration between vaccine developers, vaccine manufacturers, donors, financiers, multilateral organisations, and policy- and decision-makers will be essential.
