Preparedness for COVID-19 Vaccination Programmes

After over a year of the coronavirus pandemic, the world has welcomed the roll-out of several vaccines against the SARS-Cov-2 virus.

It is hoped that safe, effective vaccines will reduce COVID-19 related illness and hospitalisations, allowing a gradual lowering of current restrictions within societies.

Vaccination campaigns on such a large scale require meticulous planning, as well collaboration between government agencies, private and community organisations.

This article will look at the types of vaccines currently available and give advice on preparing for a successful immunisation campaign. A checklist covering all aspects of planning is provided.

Vaccine Types

There are currently several vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 already approved around the world, with many more in development.

There are four main methods of vaccine development. All aim to stimulate an immune response to an antigen so that this defence mechanism will be activated if a person encounters the virus.

Types of vaccines

Planning for Roll-out

Mass vaccination campaigns may be carried out by government health ministries or national health services. Where healthcare providers are involved, or called on to conduct local campaigns, they should follow the relevant national guidelines and protocols.

Existing plans for vaccination campaigns can be reviewed and adapted, considering the type(s) of vaccines to be used and the scale, compared to previous campaigns.

Providers may take advantage of the media publicity  surrounding  the vaccines, but appropriate communications are required to counter mis-information and vaccine hesitancy, as well as provide details on eligibility and availability.

Eligibility criteria should be clearly communicated. Where there are limited doses, a fair system should ensure that individuals are vaccinated according to their priority groups.

Planning and monitoring at all stages is essential to ensure that sufficient doses are available at the correct place and time, while avoiding spoiling or wastage of vaccines.

Efficient IT systems are essential to manage ordering, stock control, and scheduling. These should be able to cope with a surge in demand for booking appointments.

Preparedness checklist

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