WHO says that lack of logistics hinders vaccination campaigns in the world

The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a warning about the impact of the lack of logistics for the distribution and application of vaccines worldwide.

The report, which precedes the World Immunization Week, beginning April 20, states that a better supply and logistics system are essential to reach 22 million children in developing countries who are not protected against dangerous diseases.

"We have seen some important advances in the development and delivery of vaccines in recent years. But many countries still face obstacles in obtaining lifesaving vaccines to every child in need," said Flavia Bustreo, Assistant Director-General of WHO.

Many countries face serious challenges in the supply and logistics of vaccines, since the inability to keep vaccines at the correct temperature to maintain records that allow community health workers to ensure that the correct vaccines reach the children who need them.

The inefficient health systems threaten access, availability, quality and health outcomes.

The WHO's medical, Regina Ungerer, spoke of the difficulties faced by many nations, including Mozambique and Brazil. "Mozambique, suffering much from the floods, sometimes the road has to be able to vaccinate children in that province or even to get the vaccine to those places. At Amazon, to vaccinate all indigenous people, sometimes it takes you 14 days to arrive boat in some village. imagine doing a long trip, days, to get a place. Each vaccine has its ideal temperature to be maintained. And these things have to be well structured, have a well organized logistics. "

WHO in conjunction with the United Nations Fund for Children (UNICEF), the GAVI Alliance and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has drawn up new plans to strengthen immunization systems for:

- Ensure that more vaccines are discovered and developed, and that the packaging is designed to meet the needs of developing countries;

- Establish supply systems and logistics support and sustain efficient and effective distribution of vaccines;

- Improve immunization information systems to show more precisely where each vaccine is required;

- Explore the use of mobile technology for improved communication and data capture throughout the supply chain, including inventory management;

- Allocate more resources to remote and marginalized groups, including specific programs to reach nomadic communities and indigenous peoples.

<b> World Immunization Week </ b>

The Semana Mundial de Imunização de 2013, which has the theme of "Protect your world if vaccinate" is an opportunity to raise global awareness of the health benefits of vaccination.

This year, the themes are different in each region of the world. In the Americas, the campaign will focus "Vaccination, a shared responsibility".

Governments, development partners, international organizations, manufacturers, health professionals, universities, civil society, communities and individuals in 180 countries gather to promote the goal of universal coverage.

• Tweet