Southeast Asia: WHO, regulators and manufacturers discuss rapid tracking of Covid vaccine deployment-World News

World Health Organization (WHO), national regulators, and WHO Southeast Asian vaccine manufacturers on Friday Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) Deployment of vaccines in member countries.

“The vaccine manufacturing and regulatory sector plays a key role in the equitable and efficient deployment of vaccines,” said Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director of WHO Southeast Asia, at a two-day virtual conference that ended today. Said.

The meeting discussed the process and timeline for expediting the registration of Covid-19 vaccine in the country using emergency use list procedures, while understanding the status of Covid-19 vaccine production in the region.

The conference aims to strengthen cooperation between regional national programs for the introduction of the Covid-19 vaccine, vaccine producers and regulators, and the interaction and experience sharing for vaccine registration, introduction and regulation. Provided a platform for.

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Among the vaccine manufacturers are India Bharat Biotech International Ltd, Biological E Ltd, Cadila Healthcare Ltd and Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories and Wockhardt Limited; Indonesia Biopharmaceutical, Thai Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO), Bionet Asia Co. Ltd and Siam Bioscience attended the conference.

The regional director said all countries in the region are currently developing and finalizing a national deployment and vaccination plan for Covid-19, where regulatory readiness is a central factor.

Dr. Khetrapal Singh establishes a rapid regulatory pathway for vaccine approval and adjusts the regulatory pathway to the type of vaccine developed and submitted for approval, as emergency licenses precede full approval. He said that was still important.

Although it may be necessary to change the vaccine license system, she said it is essential to have standard operating procedures and a prescribed timeline for emergency licenses.

Regional directors emphasized effective coordination, collaboration and information sharing. From R & D to production, and from national readiness information to post-marketing surveillance, manufacturers, regulators, policy makers, and planners need to continue to work together to optimize and improve vaccine deployments. ..

“The countries of our region are one of the largest vaccine manufacturers in the world, and the vaccines produced here can be administered to billions of people around the world. Everyone in the region and the world. In solidarity, you are confident that you will effectively contribute to the health and well-being of all, “said Dr. Ketrapal Singh.

Major global and regional partners such as GAVI and UNICEF attended the conference.

This was the second meeting with vaccine manufacturers and regulators in the WHO Southeast Asia region, the first meeting was held in April.

WHO has helped member states in the region prepare for the COVID-19 vaccine. In November, a special session of the WHO Southeast Asia Regional Vaccination Technology Advisory Group was held. A group of experts will expedite nationwide deployment and development of vaccination plans, apply the guidelines provided by the “Value Framework for Covid-19 Vaccine Allocation and Prioritization”, and prioritize identification. We have created a set of recommendations, including a ranking roadmap. Ensuring fairness in the delivery of the Covid-19 vaccine and the priority population, especially in the early stages when vaccine supply is expected to be restricted.

Expert groups also have access to high quality, complete and timely Covid-19 surveillance data for all risk groups, including migrants and remote or displaced persons, for all countries to make vaccination-related decisions. It was recommended to secure.

While establishing partnerships with other health programs and sectors for optimal vaccine delivery, countries also include experience with seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccination, measles, rubella and Japanese encephalitis vaccination campaigns. You need to leverage your experience with vaccine delivery platforms for adults. To reach eligible adults with the Covid-19 vaccine.

Vaccination strategies should be coordinated according to Covid-19 precautions and plans developed for demand creation, community involvement, and risk communication, with special care to overcome vaccine hesitation. Countries should leverage the use of existing networks, including polio, to support the deployment of the Covid-19 vaccine as needed.

A group of experts emphasized the need to assess the cold chain space available to all countries and carefully plan cold chain requirements, including necessary improvements in storage, inventory management, vaccine delivery strategies and waste management. Did.

Previously, WHO held a meeting of cold chain managers in Southeast Asian countries to assess cold chain needs, identify gaps and plan appropriate measures.

At the global level since April, the ACT-Accelerator Partnership, launched by WHO and partners, is the fastest, most coordinated and successful global effort in history to develop tools to combat Covid-19. I have supported it. The pillar of the vaccine, COVAX, is co-led by WHO, Gavi, and the Infectious Disease Control Innovation Coalition. It aims to accelerate the development and production of the Covid-19 vaccine and ensure fair and equitable access to all countries in the world.