Abstract
In an increasingly crowded vaccine landscape, global and country decision-makers will require evidence-based and disease-specific information when prioritizing new public health interventions. The Advancing Maternal Immunization collaboration (AMI) was designed to develop a cross-program strategy to advance respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) maternal immunization (MI) availability and accessibility in low- and middle-income countries by completing a comprehensive RSV MI gap analysis and developing an actionable roadmap report. By engaging and coordinating key stakeholders using a web-based communication platform and developing standardized tools, AMI was able to facilitate interaction and consensus between members. This paper describes the methodology used to create and manage AMI's work. We share lessons learned from our approach to inform other groups conducting similar work requiring cross-sectoral engagement. This approach could be adapted to efficiently conduct gap analyses for other health interventions that require input and coordination across a variety of topic areas, disciplines, geographies, and stakeholders.
Highlights
Despite significant advances in child survival and well-being, mortality and morbidity rates in the earliest months of life remain high in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) when infants are vulnerable to certain diseases[1]
Through maternal immunization (MI), mothers can protect their infants and themselves from some diseases by getting vaccinated during pregnancy, with placentally transferred maternal antibodies passively protecting the infant for the first months of life
This paper describes the methodology used to create and manage Advancing Maternal Immunization collaboration (AMI)
Summary
Despite significant advances in child survival and well-being, mortality and morbidity rates in the earliest months of life remain high in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) when infants are vulnerable to certain diseases[1]. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of infant respiratory infections and hospitalizations worldwide. Of the more than 30 million childhood cases worldwide, RSV causes 3.2 million hospitalizations and 120,000 deaths in children before 5 years of age each year. Half of all RSV-related hospitalizations and deaths occur in the first six months of life, and almost all in LMICs2. MI is used safely and effectively in many countries and has a history of success in reducing disease for mothers and infants against pathogens such as tetanus, influenza, and pertussis[3]. Beyond maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination efforts, MI is not widely available in most LMICs4,5
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