Fractional-dose inactivated poliovirus vaccination campaign, Telangana state, India, June 2016

Friday, 26th of August 2016

Fractional-dose inactivated poliovirus vaccination campaign, Telangana state, India, June 2016

From the Weekly Epidemiological Record

Excerpt below; full text is at http://www.who.int/wer/2016/wer9134.pdf

Although vaccination campaigns with injectable vaccines have been conducted for other diseases, this was the first global campaign to use fIPV, requiring vaccinators experienced in the technique of intradermal injection. Overall, this emergency response to a reported VDPV2 event demonstrated that it is feasible to plan and implement a fIPV campaign within 14 days of the reported event and to achieve high reported coverage. Critical elements for the successful implementation of the fIPV campaign in Telangana state, India were strong government leadership at the national and state level, well-coordinated technical and operational support from GPEI partners, clearly-defined standard operating procedures for outbreak response, and prior experience in implementing OPV campaigns. Lessons learned from this campaign are likely to aid India and other countries in the successful implementation of future fIPV and other emergency campaigns using injectable vaccines. Meticulous planning ensured a sufficient number of strategically-located vaccination sites and vaccinators with prior experience in intradermal administration of vaccines as well as rapid refresher training. The planning and post-campaign monitoring assisted in achieving sound injection practices and high reported coverage. An emergency operations centre set-up by the government, with strong support from GPEI partners, coordinated the overall emergency operation. Modern technologies, such as group messaging ensured rapid communication among all stakeholders. Progress in all sectors of the campaign area was shared real-time during the preparatory and implementation phases, as were challenges and barriers, and this ensured faster collective solutions.