Abstract
This essential resource document reviews the principles and issues to be considered when making decisions about planning and implementing the introduction of a vaccine into a national immunization programme. Importantly, the document highlights ways to use the opportunity provided by the vaccine introduction to strengthen immunization and health systems. The comprehensive guidance also describes the latest references and tools related to vaccine decision-making, economic analyses, cold chain, integrated disease control and health promotion, vaccine safety, communications, monitoring, and more, and provides key URL links to many of these resources.
Purposes:
- To assist countries in making informed decisions about adding a vaccine to a national immunization programme by considering its public health priority; programmatic, economic and financial feasibility; and impact on the immunization programme and on the overall health system.
- To guide the planning of a smooth vaccine introduction.
- To suggest ways to use the opportunity provided by the introduction of the vaccine to strengthen immunization and health systems.
- Guidelines
- New vaccine introduction
