Vaccine Advocacy and Education Expanding Access to Vaccines
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The Sabin Vaccine Institute
The Sabin Vaccine Institute (Sabin) is a non-profit organization of scientists, researchers and advocates dedicated to improving the health of the world’s poorest people. Sabin seeks to reduce needless human suffering from vaccine-preventable and neglected tropical diseases by developing new vaccines, advocating for increased use of existing vaccines and promoting expanded access to treatments for infectious and neglected tropical diseases.
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Vaccine Advocacy and Education
Sabin’s Vaccine Advocacy and Education (VAE) program works with partners around the world to improve the delivery, technical capacity and financing of national immunization programs. Immunization has saved more lives than any medical innovation in recent history. But one in five children is still not receiving the vaccinations they need. Working alongside national governments, our program teams inform policy makers, build networks, conduct research and train leaders, all with the goal of reducing the incidence of vaccine-preventable deaths to zero. The VAE program emphasizes the importance of country ownership and equity in immunization levels as outlined in the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP), a roadmap to prevent millions of deaths by 2020 by achieving universal and sustainable access to all vaccines. Sabin VAE
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VAE’s programs are linked by the common goals of
country ownership, equity and sustainability VAE is composed of a group of programs that address challenges facing the global immunization community, including achieving country ownership, equity and sustainability. The Coalition against Typhoid is a global forum connecting researchers, advocates and policy makers to provide a collective voice in the fight against typhoid. Through strategic partnerships and comprehensive research, CaT catalyzes sustainable solutions to ensure those most vulnerable have access to vaccines and clean water. The Sustainable Immunization Financing Program works with national counterparts to raise awareness and develop innovative approaches for domestic immunization financing, such as legislation, local advocacy coalitions, new financing arrangements and improved budget and financial management practices.
The International Association of Immunization Managers is the only international professional association dedicated to immunization managers, providing opportunities to connect, share solutions and gain the training they need to advance their programs. Sabin partners with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on the ProVac Initiative to guide vaccineintroduction decisions using a data-driven approach tailored to the country’s needs and resources. Through Special Projects, Sabin provides decision makers with the resources they need to introduce new vaccines and strengthen immunization programs.
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The Coalition against Typhoid (CaT) Typhoid fever, an infection spread through contaminated food and water, kills more than 200,000 people every year, most of whom are children. Almost exclusive to low-income countries, typhoid and invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella (iNTS) can be prevented by providing the most vulnerable with access to vaccines and clean water. CaT is a global forum connecting researchers, advocates and policy makers to raise awareness of typhoid as a public health threat and advocate for sustainable solutions including the delivery of affordable vaccines and infrastructure improvements to ensure access to clean water and sanitation.
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A leader in research, CaT collaborates with in-country partners to address knowledge gaps and inform policy for vaccine implementation and global typhoid control. CaT manages the Surveillance for Enteric Fever in Asia Project (SEAP) to generate data on disease burden in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan. The CaT Secretariat, located within Sabin, is a trusted voice in the typhoid community and represents CaT at global fora to present the latest research and vaccine developments. Launched in 2010, the Secretariat hosts hundreds of stakeholders at the biennial International Conference on Typhoid and iNTS and coordinates the Coalition’s effort to reduce the vulnerability of communities most at risk in endemic countries in Asia and Africa.
The global burden of typhoid
Risk of typhoid: Low Medium High
Source: Crump, et al. 2014
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SIF partner countries are advancing toward country ownership of immunization programs through legislation, new financing mechanisms and budget tracking The Sustainable Immunization Financing Program (SIF) Immunization is among the simplest, most cost-effective investments a nation can make to protect its population from disease and propel its economy into the next stage of development. However, national immunization budgets are currently insufficient to sustain the programs, much less incorporate new, costlier vaccines.
SIF’s program officers are based throughout Africa, Asia and Europe. SIF has played a vital role in the passage of legislation in several countries, providing briefings to inform stakeholders on novel financing approaches and bringing parliamentarians together with ministry officials to draft and advance legislation.
SIF works with countries around the world to develop sustainable immunization financing solutions, encouraging transparent and accurate budget tracking for routine immunization, equipping domestic immunization financing advocates with the information they need, and bringing national and international counterparts together to learn from each other. Sabin VAE
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Immunization Success Story: Democratic Republic of the Congo Since Sabin’s Sustainable Immunization Financing (SIF) team began its work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 2009, the country has increased its national immunization budget by 650 percent, even in the face of political instability and internal conflict. This impressive accomplishment is due, in large part, to the Parliamentary Network for Immunization Support, an advocacy coalition of 50 DRC parliamentarians, as well as ministerial officials and immunization experts, who have made it their mission to defend the immunization budget and track actual disbursement and use of immunization funds.
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To measurably improve immunization funding requires engagement at every level of the government. Parliamentarians representing the coalition regularly conduct visits to provinces, briefing governors and urging provincial officials to join the coalition as advocates for immunization financing. Coordinating with SIF, the coalition has secured commitments from the majority of provinces to increase their immunization spending, growing the network of immunization advocates and bringing the country closer to full ownership of its immunization program.
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IAIM is the largest network of immunization managers in the world, with members representing more than 100 countries The International Association of Immunization Managers (IAIM) Public health leaders have stated that better management of immunization programs is the key to improving performance and achieving higher immunization coverage. IAIM is the first organization that specifically targets this need, providing immunization managers and professionals with management training in a marketplace dominated by technical training programs. IAIM offers these dedicated health professionals opportunities to strengthen their knowledge and skills through training scholarships, peerto-peer exchanges, webinars and access to online tools and trainings.
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Since its launch in 2013, IAIM has grown to include more than 200 members from more than 100 countries, making it the largest network of immunization managers in the world. IAIM connects national and sub-national managers through regional meetings, global conferences and an interactive, trilingual website, helping more managers than ever connect across borders and share their best practices to improve program performance.
IAIM around the world
IAIM members learn valuable management skills by attending trainings and sharing best practices during individual exchanges. Peer-to-peer exchanges Training scholarships
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The ProVac Initiative Sabin partners with PAHO on the ProVac Initiative with a mission of working with developing countries to strengthen national capacity to make evidence-based decisions regarding new vaccine introduction.
The ProVac program originated in Latin America, and through an International Working Group, Sabin aims to expand the program to other regions around the world.
Ultimately, this work will accelerate access to vaccines against pneumonia, diarrhea, cervical cancer and influenza in developing countries. Using ProVac methodology, countries form interdisciplinary teams that generate their own evidence (estimating disease burdens and costs for introducing specific vaccines and for delivering routine immunization services) and translate and communicate that evidence to decision makers.
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TRANSPOR T
ECON O M I C D E V E LOPM E N T
Special Projects VAE Special Projects leads initiatives highlighting new and underutilized vaccines to help endemic countries respond to the evolving immunization landscape. Special Projects strengthens public health solutions for dengue, WOMEN’S EM P O W E Rmeasles, MENT rotavirus, pertussis, meningococcal disease, pneumococcal disease, rubella, HPV and influenza, focusing on the following approaches: D ISTRIB UTION
ADVOCATING & COMMUNICATING
FORGING PARTNERSHIPS
Driving communication initiatives for disease-focused partnerships, generating and facilitating access to scientific evidence to help countries prevent and control disease. As the advocacy arm of the Dengue Vaccine Initiative, an international consortium laying the groundwork for dengue vaccine introduction, Special Projects has led strategic communication to accelerate vaccine access in developing countries, when evidence supports introduction.
Convening in-country specialists and other stakeholders to share the challenges of introducing new vaccines and improving immunization programs. Special Projects has been instrumental in bringing together experts at global forums such as the biennial International Rotavirus Symposium.
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NE D UCATION
E D U C ATI O N
R A N D NUTRITION
UN I V E R S A L E D U C AT I ON
H E A LT H / D IS E ASES
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HU NG ER AND NU TRI TION
ECON O MIC D E VE LOPME N T
HU N G E R A N D N U TR I TI ON
REDUCE CHILDHOOD M O R TALIT Y I M PRO V E MATERNAL H EA LTH
Special Projects has hosted: more than 2,000 participants from nearly 100 countries at more than 20 events since 2011 WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT
REDUCE CHILDHOOD M OR TA L IT Y
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BUILDING CAPACITY
DEVELOPING RESOURCES
Facilitating courses for immunization Collaborating with partners to generate UNIVEtoRshare S A L Ebest DUpractices C AT I O Nand stay E CO NO M I C E V ELOPMENT H UNGER professionals evidence onDdisease burden and surveillance abreast of developments in the field. The Ciro for the prevention and control of vaccinede Quadros Vaccinology Course gathers preventable diseases. Special Projects has immunization managers and vaccinology conducted studies with cross-sector partners experts to discuss the latest updates in the like PAHO and the U.S. Centers for Disease immunization field. Special Projects also Control and Prevention (CDC) in projects provides journalists with technical information such as the Latin American Pertussis Project, to more effectively communicate about which has developed strategies to improve vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases. surveillance in the region.
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Leadership JON ANDRUS, M.D. Executive Vice President, Sabin Vaccine Institute Director, Vaccine Advocacy and Education Jon Andrus joined Sabin in October 2014 from PAHO, where he served as Deputy Director. Prior to that, he was the Lead Technical Advisor for PAHO’s immunization program, providing oversight and guidance for PAHO’s technical cooperation to member countries. Dr. Andrus began his global health career as a Peace Corps volunteer, serving as a District Medical Officer in Malawi. He has since held positions in the CDC Global Immunization Division, as Head, Vaccinology and Immunization Program at the Institute for Global Health at the Universities of California at San Francisco and Berkeley, and as Director of the Global Health MPH Program at George Washington University. In 2000, he received the Distinguished Service Medal, the highest award of the United States Public Health Service, for his leadership in working to eradicate polio in Southeast Asia. He has received numerous other awards for his leadership in the eradication of polio, measles, rubella and congenital rubella syndrome, as well as the introduction of new vaccines in developing countries.
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PETER CARRASCO Director, International Association of Immunization Managers Peter Carrasco joined Sabin in 2012. His career includes 32 years with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) immunization program. He began his public health career working with WHO’s Smallpox Eradication Program, and for 24 years managed the dayto-day operations of the PAHO Vaccine Revolving Fund. He also led the field operations for planning the use and deployment of a pandemic influenza vaccine in 2009 across all WHO regions.
ANA FLAVIA CARVALHO, MBA, M.P.H. Director, Special Projects Ana Flavia Carvalho joined Sabin in 2003. Before joining Sabin, Ms. Carvalho was the co-founder and manager of a construction company that built houses for low-income families in the city of Campo Grande, Brazil. She also worked as the Senior Financial Analyst for Procter & Gamble in Brazil where she was primarily involved in business and project administration.
DENISE GARRETT, M.D., M.SC. Director, Coalition against Typhoid Denise Garrett joined Sabin in August, 2015, after 23 years at the CDC, where she focused on international health and epidemiologic research. During her tenure with the CDC, Dr. Garrett led several multicenter infectious disease studies in developing and developed countries. She brings extensive experience collaborating with partners to expand infectious disease control and prevention, as well as outbreak response programs around the world.
MIKE MCQUESTION, PH.D., M.P.H. Director, Sustainable Immunization Financing Mike McQuestion joined Sabin in 2007, bringing with him a wealth of experience in public health. In addition to his extensive teaching and research experience at the university level, he has been the Global Supervisor for the PolioPlus Program of the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, Technical Officer for PAHO’s Diarrheal Diseases Control Program and a volunteer in the U.S. Peace Corps.
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Please contact us to learn more about the impact an investment can make in fighting vaccine-preventable diseases.
Sabin Vaccine Institute 2000 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 7100 Washington, DC 20006 Phone: +1 (202) 842-5025 Web: www.sabin.org Email: info@sabin.org @sabinvaccine facebook.com/sabinvaccine
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