Introduction

Enhancing national capacity to make informed policy decisions on the introduction of new vaccines

New life-saving vaccines being introduced, such as Pneumococcal, Rotavirus, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), and Influenza, have significantly higher prices than previous vaccines. As health sector budgets grow slowly, resources have to be allocated more prudently and consider competing options.

Consequently, making evidence-based vaccine introduction decisions now requires competencies beyond those traditionally found in many National Immunization Programs. Decision makers now increasingly require economic analysis to support decision-making for new vaccines, in addition to epidemiologic, logistical, and financial data.

The ProVac Initiative, launched in September 2006 (by Directing Council resolution CD47.R10), provides technical cooperation to decision makers and strengthens national capacity to make evidence-based, informed decisions in the context of the introduction of new vaccines.

You can learn more about the ProVac Initiative and the introduction of new vaccines through the following two reports:

• A model for enhancing evidence-based capacity to make informed policy decisions on the introduction of new vaccines in the Americas: PAHO’s Pro-Vac Initiative.
• Introduction of New and Underutilized Vaccines: Perspectives from the Americas
• Descriptive analysis of immunization policy decision making in the Americas
• Challenges To Building Capacity For Evidence-Based New Vaccine Policy In Developing Countries

 

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