RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Health worker vaccination programmes can help to safeguard both health workers (HWs) and their patients and enhance vaccine uptake more broadly in local communities and society. This study's objective was to increase global understanding of how existing HW vaccination programmes were leveraged for emergency COVID-19 vaccine introduction. METHODS: This qualitative study included 13 in-depth group interviews with 38 key informants with expertise in vaccine programme implementation from eleven countries in five WHO regions: Albania, Armenia, Bhutan, Lao PDR, Maldives, Mongolia, Oman, Timor Leste, the United Kingdom, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe in addition to WHO regional focal points from all six regions. These interviews were transcribed, coded, and thematically analyzed. Key informants reviewed the initial results and validated the key findings. RESULTS: Informants characterized key components of both routine and seasonal influenza vaccination programmes that were leveraged for the emergency vaccination of HWs during the COVID-19 pandemic. We identified a set of cross-cutting factors that were used for COVID-19 vaccine roll out: 1) pre-existing occupational health policies, 2) adequate human resources, 3) well-functioning data information systems and vaccine delivery platforms, and 4) established communication channels. Across the eleven countries and six regions interviewed, the ability to adapt existing influenza or other health worker vaccination infrastructure was beneficial for their pandemic response. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest a strong justification for enhanced investment in vaccination of health workers, particularly against seasonal influenza, through country-wide programmes as a foundation for pandemic preparedness and response.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Immunization is essential for safeguarding health workers from vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) that they may encounter at work; however, information about the prevalence and scope of national policies that protect health workers through vaccination is limited. Understanding the global landscape of health worker immunization programmes can help direct resources, assist decision-making and foster partnerships as nations consider strategies for increasing vaccination uptake among health workers. METHODS: A one-time supplementary survey was distributed to World Health Organization (WHO) Member States using the WHO/United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Joint Reporting Form on Immunization (JRF). Respondents described their 2020 national vaccination policies for health workers - detailing VPD policies and characterising technical and funding support, monitoring and evaluation activities and provisions for vaccinating health workers in emergencies. RESULTS: A total of 53 % (103/194) Member States responded and described health worker policies: 51 had a national policy for vaccinating health workers; 10 reported plans to introduce a national policy within 5 years; 20 had subnational/institutional policies; 22 had no policy for vaccinating health workers. Most national policies were integrated with occupational health and safety policies (67 %) and included public and private providers (82 %). Hepatitis B, seasonal influenza and measles were most frequently included in policies. Countries both with and without national vaccination policies reported monitoring and reporting vaccine uptake (43 countries), promoting vaccination (53 countries) and assessing vaccine demand, uptake or reasons for undervaccination (25 countries) among health workers. Mechanisms for introducing a vaccine for health workers in an emergency existed in 62 countries. CONCLUSION: National policies for vaccinating health workers were complex and context specific with regional and income-level variations. Opportunities exist for developing and strengthening national health worker immunization programmes. Existing health worker immunization programmes might provide a foothold on which broader health worker vaccination policies can be built and strengthened.
