Abstract
The Immunization Systems Management Group (IMG) was established to coordinate and oversee objective 2 of the Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 2013–2018, namely, (1) introduction of ≥1 dose of inactivated poliovirus vaccine in all 126 countries using oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) only as of 2012, (2) full withdrawal of OPV, starting with the withdrawal of its type 2 component, and (3) using polio assets to strengthen immunization systems in 10 priority countries. The IMG’s inclusive, transparent, and partnership-focused approach proved an effective means of leveraging the comparative and complementary strengths of each IMG member agency. This article outlines 10 key factors behind the IMG’s success, providing a potential set of guiding principles for the establishment and implementation of other interagency collaborations and initiatives beyond the polio sphere.
Highlights
The Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 2013–2018 [1], calls for the global public health community to unite to achieve four critical objectives: (1) poliovirus detection and interruption, (2) immunization program strengthening and oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) withdrawal, (3) containment and certification, and (4) legacy planning
Were the polio staff fully occupied with polio campaigns and outbreak response, but there was a benefit in incorporating staff with experience with the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), strengthening of immunization systems, and introduction of new vaccines into the routine immunization (RI) programs
The Immunization Systems Management Group (IMG) recognized early on that with 126 countries involved in inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) introduction and at least 155 countries and territories that would need to be involved with trivalent OPV (tOPV) withdrawal, leadership by regional colleagues, from World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), was critical
Summary
The Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 2013–2018 (the Endgame) [1], calls for the global public health community to unite to achieve four critical objectives: (1) poliovirus detection and interruption, (2) immunization program strengthening and oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) withdrawal, (3) containment and certification, and (4) legacy planning. To meet these objectives, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) established a series of management groups, each responsible for one of these objectives, or for a cross-cutting function (ie, budget, advocacy)
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