Vaccine and cold chain Management Training Manual

Immunization is the most cost-effective intervention in public health and it is one of the indicators of development in most developing countries. The Expanded  Program  on Immunization (EPI)  started  in Ethiopia  in 1980 with  the aim of reducing mortality  and morbidity  of children  and mothers  from vaccine  preventable  diseases. During the inception of EPI the objective was to increase immunization coverage by 10% annually. However, the coverage in the first 20 years remained low although during the 1990’s good progress was observed through Universal Child Immunization (UCI).  Since 2004, the reaching every district (RED) approach has been implemented in Ethiopia in districts with poor immunization coverage and high dropout rates. As a result, the coverage showed marked improvement.  

In Ethiopia, EPI was launched in 1980 with six antigens (BCG, Polio, DPT and Measles vaccines). Several new vaccines have been introduced over time (HepB and Hib in combination with DPT as Pentavalent in 2007, PCV10 in 2011, Rota in 2013, IPV in 2015 and switch from tOPV to bOPV in 2016, HPV in December 2018, and MCV2 in February 2019). The switch from PCV10 to PCV13 and TT to Td is completed in 2020. Currently, 12 antigens are provided through routine EPI.  In addition, piloting is under implementation for Hep B birth dose in four woredas in the country. The use of static sites, outreach sites and mobile teams are recommended as appropriate strategies for delivering immunization services. All public hospitals, health centers and health posts are expected to provide immunization service; some private health facilities also provide immunization service.

.

Vaccine management

Vaccine management can be defined as the main component in all immunization efforts including accelerated disease control activities as well as improving coverage and introduction of new vaccines.

The high level of vaccine wastage, and poor utilization of available equipment and failure to  observe important policies such as Vaccine  Vial Monitors (VVM),  and/or Multi-Dose  Vial Policy (MDVP) have  also highlighted  the need  for  improvement of the immunization human resources capacity for better  vaccine  management  and immunization practices.  Adverse events due  to    inappropriate  vaccine distribution  practices  are,  partly,  also  believed    to  impact  negatively  on  vaccine  management.

Immunization is the most cost-effective intervention in public health and it is one of the indicators of development in most developing countries. The Expanded  Program  on Immunization (EPI)  started  in Ethiopia  in 1980 with  the aim of reducing mortality  and morbidity  of children  and mothers  from vaccine  preventable  diseases. During the inception of EPI the objective was to increase immunization coverage by 10% annually. However, the coverage in the first 20 years remained low although during the 1990’s good progress was observed through Universal Child Immunization (UCI).  Since 2004, the reaching every district (RED) approach has been implemented in Ethiopia in districts with poor immunization coverage and high dropout rates. As a result, the coverage showed marked improvement.  

In Ethiopia, EPI was launched in 1980 with six antigens (BCG, Polio, DPT and Measles vaccines). Several new vaccines have been introduced over time (HepB and Hib in combination with DPT as Pentavalent in 2007, PCV10 in 2011, Rota in 2013, IPV in 2015 and switch from tOPV to bOPV in 2016, HPV in December 2018, and MCV2 in February 2019). The switch from PCV10 to PCV13 and TT to Td is completed in 2020. Currently, 12 antigens are provided through routine EPI.  In addition, piloting is under implementation for Hep B birth dose in four woredas in the country. The use of static sites, outreach sites and mobile teams are recommended as appropriate strategies for delivering immunization services. All public hospitals, health centers and health posts are expected to provide immunization service; some private health facilities also provide immunization service.

.

Vaccine management

Vaccine management can be defined as the main component in all immunization efforts including accelerated disease control activities as well as improving coverage and introduction of new vaccines.

The high level of vaccine wastage, and poor utilization of available equipment and failure to  observe important policies such as Vaccine  Vial Monitors (VVM),  and/or Multi-Dose  Vial Policy (MDVP) have  also highlighted  the need  for  improvement of the immunization human resources capacity for better  vaccine  management  and immunization practices.  Adverse events due  to    inappropriate  vaccine distribution  practices  are,  partly,  also  believed    to  impact  negatively  on  vaccine  management.