Immunization policies for the countries of central and eastern Europe : report on a WHO workshop, Rome Italy 24-26 October 1996

Abstract

This Workshop provided a forum for reviewing the current WHO recommendations and policies on vaccination against diseases covered by the WHO Expanded Programme on Immunization (‎EPI)‎ and vaccine procurement procedures in the countries of central and eastern Europe. EPI and immunization programme managers in these countries could consider changes in vaccine delivery and surveillance to strengthen their programmes. Sharing recent experiences with the control of poliomyelitis (‎following the introduction of wild poliovirus in the Balkan peninsula)‎, measles pertussis and hepatitis B, the participants discussed where programme improvements could be made, focusing particularly on the current status of the global and European efforts towards poliomyelitis eradication. Participants thoroughly reviewed vaccine management, including the need for functional national control authorities, and vaccine procurement and handling. The discussion on vaccine delivery indicated the approaches of WHO, the United Nations Children's Fund and the donor community to assisting the countries of central and eastern Europe to reach true self-sufficiency