HPNW Session – Humanitarian action & COVAX Lessons Learned

About the Session

The COVID-19 vaccination campaign, deployed globally as one of the essential measures in combating the pandemic, is the greatest and most complex vaccination campaign in human history, with almost 13 billion doses administered, with almost 70% of the world population receiving at least one dose of vaccines.

COVAX facility brought together governments, global health organisations, manufacturers, scientists, the private sector, civil society and philanthropy to provide innovative and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines to ensure that people in all corners of the world will get access to COVID-19 vaccines, regardless of their wealth, including in many countries affected by protracted conflicts. To date, just over 26% of people in low-income countries have received at least one dose of the vaccines.

The humanitarian contexts affected by multiple humanitarian needs and challenges, including conflict-related access issues, are critical in the global fight against the pandemic. Complementing host governments’ efforts, humanitarian organisations play an essential role in such challenging contexts to ensure vaccination outreach to some of the most vulnerable communities, including millions of forcibly displaced populations.

INTERSOS is convening the panel discussion, together with partner organisations, with the purpose of sharing vital operational lessons and best practices concerning conducting COVID-19 vaccination campaign in humanitarian settings, including coordination, RCCE and IEC activities, COVID-19 vaccine administration, cold-chain management, training of vaccinators, and implementing the vaccination campaign, as well as key challenges and bottlenecks, including those related to epidemic surveillance, managing misinformation, and other challenges.

The discussion will also reflect on recommendations for the way forward.

Speakers

Moderator:

Eileen Morrow, Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, ICVA

Panelists:

Dr. Alice Wimmer, MPH, Humanitarian Workstream Manager, WHO – CoVDP

Daniela Garone, Infectious Diseases specialist and DTM&H, International Medical Coordinator, MSF International

Andrea Accardi, COVAX Task Force Coordinator, INTERSOS

Richard Mihigo, Director Covid-19 Vaccine Delivery, Coordination, and Integration, GAVI The Vaccine Alliance