Childhood vaccination is essential to reducing child deaths and achieving the Sustainable Development Goal for child survival (SDG 3.2). But currently, coverage of the most life saving vaccines for children - targeting pneumonia/meningitis, diarrhea, measles, and whooping cough/pertussis - are well below the Immunisation Agenda 2030 (IA2030) target of 90% global coverage.
The Childhood Vaccination subgroup is guided by the principles of vaccine equity, accessibility, and affordability. This subgroup supports increases in coverage of the most lifesaving childhood vaccines that will impact SDG 3.2 achievement and improvements in coordination among the major global and regional childhood vaccine initiatives underway and planned. Critically, the subgroup deepens linkages between vaccine groups and groups focused on other prevention, diagnosis, and treatment interventions relating to the leading child killers and risk factors. The goal is that greater alignment across these groups and initiatives at the global level will signal and strengthen similar collaboration at the country level.
Goal
To accelerate high coverage (>90%) of the most lifesaving childhood vaccines, especially in the 59 countries off-track to achieve SDG 3.2 which are the focus of the Child Survival Action initiative.
Objectives
- mobilize support for off-track countries (see table in Annex I) to introduce PCV and rotavirus vaccines before 2025, including by assisting with Gavi applications, generating lives-saved impact data, analyzing cost-benefits of various introduction options (e.g., catchup campaigns, vaccine product choice, dosing schedules, etc.), and by strategizing solutions to high coverage barriers (e.g., vaccine price, cold chain, workforce, etc.)
- support national vaccine prioritization exercises that enable governments to assess the relative impact of the PCV, rotavirus, measles, DTP, and malaria (where relevant) vaccines, and the likely impact of the RSV vaccine, including by advocating for country-based and country-led research on new and emerging childhood vaccines
- conduct independent analyses of PCV, rotavirus, measles, and DTP vaccine coverage in the 59 off-track countries, and where relevant RSV and RTS,S vaccines, and publish progress reports with recommendations during World Immunization Week (April) each year
- convene leading childhood vaccination stakeholders to discuss strategies to better integrate the delivery of critical child survival vaccines in the 59 off-track countries (e.g., National Child Health Technical Working Groups or equivalent, National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups/NITAGS, Immunization Agenda 2030, Measles and Rubella Partnership, Defeat Diarrhea, Malaria Vaccine Initiative, Meningitis Research Foundation, etc.)
- leverage the work of other vaccine initiatives that are active in the 59 off-track countries, including zero-dose vaccine programs (e.g., ZIP program), the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, Global Taskforce on Cholera Control, and HPV campaigns
- execute campaigns that raise awareness and build support for increases in coverage of the most lifesaving childhood vaccines (e.g., calls for industry to reduce prices, community mobilization and awareness), with a special focus on vaccinating vulnerable children (e.g., migrant and displaced, disabilities and conflict-affected)
- engage industry to announce plans to accelerate access to childhood vaccines by addressing supply constraints, the relatively high prices of the PCV, rotavirus, and measles vaccines, and the RTS,S and RSV vaccines where relevant
- deepen linkages between vaccine groups and groups focused on other prevention, diagnosis, and treatment interventions relating to the leading child killers and risk factors (e.g., pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria, and malnutrition, air pollution, and low birth weight/short gestation)
- leverage investments in health systems strengthening and Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for improvements in coverage of the most lifesaving childhood vaccines
- disseminate the work of the subgroup and its members to critical decision-making audiences, especially vaccine stakeholders in the off-track countries, including by building a strong social media presence and contributing to broader vaccine advocacy and communications efforts (e.g., Immunization Partners, ONE Campaign, Global Citizen, etc.)
Leadership
Chairs:
Revati Phalkey, Save the Children
Jolem Mwanje, Impact Health Organization
Oumar Diallo, GAVI Raise 4 Sahel Project; World Vision