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Pharmaceutical companies Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca have announced in recent days the development of a Covid-19 vaccine with an efficacy of more than 90%. There is therefore hope to control the pandemic, resume normal social life and relaunch our economies.
Let’s face it right away, these vaccines will not initially be available in large quantities for every country and for everyone. Indeed, it will take some time for these companies to gradually ramp up the production of vaccine doses and meet international demand.
In the case of this virus, the goal is to vaccinate the populations of all countries regardless of socio-economic level (developed and developing countries). It is within this framework that an international alliance (Covax) has been established to finance vaccines in countries with limited resources for the sake of international solidarity, equity and equality.
According to projections made by Covax, each country will initially receive a series of doses to vaccinate 20% of its population. Gradually, national coverage will be achieved as vaccines are produced and available over the 2021-2022 period. It is therefore necessary and urgent now that our countries prepare and anticipate how to manage Covid-19 vaccination by preparing a national plan for access to vaccination. This plan should holistically describe the entire management process throughout the country. The following points must constitute the various elements to be developed:
1. The priority populations to be vaccinated first: identify and count them. This concerns in particular healthcare personnel and vulnerable populations (elderly subjects, patients with comorbidities). After this first phase, the plan should describe how vaccination will be carried out for the rest of the population.
2. The necessary logistics: define the vaccine distribution strategy at the national level, the required cold chain, the computerization of the beneficiary files at the regional, departmental level, up to the village.
3. Human, material, financial resources: the budget necessary to cover all these activities, staff training to ensure vaccination, documentation and monitoring system for the administration of the second dose of vaccine.
4. Identification of potential Covid19 vaccination sites: in addition to traditional health services, it will also be necessary to identify sites that can host a large number of populations. The goal is to be as close to communities as possible to facilitate access to vaccination.
5. Communication strategy for education and awareness of the populations on the importance and the need to be vaccinated with a translation in all national languages. This is an important step in the implementation of this plan. In fact, it will be necessary to explain to the populations the importance of Covid-19 vaccination in a language that is accessible and understandable by all. Involve religious and community leaders (men, women and young people) in the communication strategy, who should work closely with health professionals at all levels. The message should be clear and science-based. It will also be necessary to very quickly correct all bad and false information about the Covid-19 vaccine, not based on science and conventionally called “fake news”. Reassure the populations and establish a relationship of trust.
6. Involve all the other support sectors around the Ministry of Health: company, school, university medicine, Army health service, pension medicine (Ipres), private medicine. A good organization and a good method are necessary for the success of Covid-19 vaccination in a global approach of transparency and fairness at all levels.
We act immediately and immediately to be operational and not waste time when the vaccine is available to everyone!
Professor Papa Salif SOW
Infectious and tropical diseases specialist
Expert global health diplomacy
Member of the National Academy of Sciences and Techniques of Senegal
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