Subject: Vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization -March 2021
From: WHO/Europe <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Date: Wed, 31 Mar 2021 08:07:06 +0000

News, announcements, and publications

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Vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization programme

March 2021

In this issue

Vaccination and COVID-19

European Immunization Week 2021

News

Publications

COVID-19 vaccination of priority population groups has commenced in the European Region following a period of intensive preparation to ensure smooth deployment and high uptake of COVID-19 vaccines. Millions of vaccine doses have been administered in the region since the comment of the vaccine rollout.

This issue of the VPI newsletter brings together the various resources produced by WHO/Europe over the past few months to support Member States in rolling out the vaccines. It also highlights news and publications related to vaccination against COVD-19 and other vaccine- preventable diseases.

Vaccination and COVID-19

WHO/Europe COVID-19 Vaccine Programme Monitor

Weekly updated dashboard of COVID-19 vaccination in the WHO European Region

COVID-19 job aids and factsheets for health care professionals

Technical information per vaccine to support health professionals

Health workers in focus: policies and practices for successful public response to COVID-19 vaccination: strategic considerations for Member States in the WHO European Region

This document provides considerations for designing and implementing strategies to support and empower health workers. It is intended for use by governments, health authorities, and others involved in the COVID-19 pandemic response and vaccination rollout at national and subnational levels.

Operational guidance to support Member States in preparing for and implementing COVID-19 vaccination

Guidance on a range of topics developed by a working group convened by WHO/Europe consisting of experts from WHO, partner agencies, academia, Member States and other stakeholders.

Acceptance and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines

Legal and regulatory framework facilitating COVID-19 vaccine deployment

COVID-19 vaccination data and information management, including monitoring  of vaccine effectiveness

Evidence-based decision-making process for developing national COVID-19 vaccination strategies

Management structure, advocacy and resources for COVID-19 vaccine deployment and vaccination

New Platform: COVID-19 vaccine and vaccination explained

In collaboration with WHO/Europe, the WHO Collaborating Centre for Vaccine Safety, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago, has developed an online platform to answer key questions from health care professionals and the general public on COVID-19 vaccines. This new online platform offers an evolving library of videos, podcasts and texts in English, Spanish and Russian, with other languages under development.

The materials are part of joint efforts by WHO and the WHO Collaborating Centre to ensure that health workers are well prepared to make decisions for themselves and to advise and inform the public about COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination.

Visit:  www.covid19infovaccines.com

Covid-19 vaccines and vaccination explained – Introduction

European Immunization Week 2021

26th April - 2 May 2021

Every year, the WHO European Region marks European Immunization Week (EIW) to promote immunization as vital to preventing diseases and protecting life. This year EIW will celebrate the role of immunization in protecting good health for all throughout life with the tagline: Vaccines bring us closer. EIW will be used to:

celebrate vaccination as an essential tool in efforts to end the pandemic

increase trust in COVID-19 vaccines

underline the importance of continuing routine immunizations during the pandemic

focus on global solidarity

Read more

NEWS

Circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 detected in Tajikistan

As of 18 March, 4 paralytic cases of children infected with circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) have been reported in Tajikistan, with several cVDPV2 cases detected in community and close contacts.

WHO Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS) COVID-19 subcommittee reviews safety signals related to the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine

The GACVS COVID-19 subcommittee met virtually on 16 and 19 March 2021 to review available information and data on thromboembolic events (blood clots) and thrombocytopenia (low platelets) after vaccination with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. Based on a careful scientific review of the available information, the subcommittee came up with conclusions and recommendations on use of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

Serbia’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign off to a strong start

In Serbia, more than 1 million people, or over 13% of the country’s population, have now been vaccinated against the virus responsible for COVID-19. This early success provides a strong foundation for the broader population-wide campaign yet to come.

Republic of Moldova first country in Europe to receive COVID-19 vaccine through COVAX Facility

On 4 March, the Republic of Moldova became the first country in the WHO European Region to receive vaccines as part of the COVAX Facility global procurement mechanism.

Republic of Moldova prepares for COVID-19 vaccine deployment

An unprecedented readiness drill was conducted in the Republic of Moldova in preparation for the arrival of the first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines.

EU and WHO Regional Office for Europe join forces to ensure deployment of COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination in six European countries, their largest collaboration in the European Region to date

The European Union (EU) and WHO/Europe will work together in a major effort to support deployment of COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination in the six EU Eastern Partnership countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. The project, funded by the EU and implemented by the Regional Office, will cover all phases of COVID-19 vaccine deployment and vaccination and serve as a major investment to strengthen routine immunization systems in the six countries.

PUBLICATIONS

Epidata 1/2021

EpiData provides a monthly overview of surveillance data on selected vaccine-preventable diseases reported by Member States in the European Region. EpiData 1/2021 covers data for the period January—December 2020.

EpiBrief 1/2021

This issue of WHO Epi-Brief provides an overview of selected epidemiological characteristics of measles and rubella in the WHO European Region based on monthly surveillance data for  the period January - December 2020.

CONTACT US

Vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization (VPI)

WHO Regional Office for Europe

UN City, Marmorvej 51

DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark

Email: [email-masked]

Website: www.euro.who.int/immunization

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