Short Term Consultant (STC) for VDI to support the Government in the uptake of vaccination coverage for childhood immunization and Covid-19 vaccination
BACKGROUND
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a unique set of challenges for the implementation and scale-up of response interventions. Since March 2021, the Government of the Philippines initiated a phased risk-based approach to COVID-19 vaccination, starting with priority groups such as healthcare workers, the elderly, and persons with co-morbidities, followed by the wider community. Despite strenuous efforts to vaccinate those eligible, including improving access to vaccination sites and mobile vaccination services to deliver vaccinations door to door, as of 15 August 2022, 72 million individuals (64.7%) from the total eligible population of 111,572,254 have received the primary series of COVID19 vaccines. Among the elderly, the vaccination coverage was 78% fully vaccinated out of 9.2 million total population over the age of 60 years.COVID-19 vaccination coverage varies across the country by geography and priority group.
Recently the number of daily vaccinations has decreased substantially, and fewer people now attend the national vaccination days, previously a highly utilised service.
As per global targets, the country needs to achieve 70% vaccination coverage out of 111,572,254 by June 2022. To achieve that, the government needs to implement targeted efforts swiftly to ramp up vaccination uptake while COVID-19 infections remain low. Otherwise, a new wave of another COVID19 variant could undo response efforts, overwhelm the health care system and disrupt essential health services and socio-economic activities once again.
COVID-19 has overwhelmed health teams and systems and has demonstrated the need to increase capacity for robust and integrated public health programs. Such efforts include the optimal functioning of the AEFI monitoring and response system up to the subnational level. In addition, delivery gaps for routine immunization services have left children vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) such as measles and polio. Besides, we have an opportunity to integrate COVID-19 vaccination and routine immunization programs to deliver holistic public health interventions for the community.
Upon guidance from regional director, WHO PHL have formulated a concept note to support the last mile vaccination and target the areas where the most vulnerable and susceptible people are left unvaccinated. WHO will continue to provide technical support as the subnational initiative to reach the unreached.
PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY
To recruit an individual partner to provide Technical Assistance to support the Vaccine Preventable Diseases and Immunization (VDI) programme in providing technical support to the Department of Health in the uptake of vaccination coverage for childhood immunization and Covid-19 vaccination under Short-Term Consultancy (STC) contract.
DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT
Under the overall supervision of the WHO Representative and direct supervision of the VDI team Leader of the WHO Country Office for the Philippines, the consultant shall perform the following tasks/responsibilities, by working with Department of health, Centers of Health Development (DOH CHD) focusing primarily to meet the WHO global target for COVID-19 vaccination and the coverage for priority population and preventing the VPD outbreaks such as Measles and Polio. STC will follow the guidance and provide technical assistance to fulfill the activities outlined in the last mile vaccination concept note from WHO PHL.
- Consultants will be deployed at the Centres of Health Development and will provide technical support in the LGU to increase the uptake of COVID 19 Vaccination by improving the utilization of the available vaccines.
- • To achieve highest possible vaccination coverage at the city/municipality level to meet the WHO regional and national target coverage.
- • Support LGU to formulate the vaccine utilization plan and achieve high coverage for all the eligible group for the global target of complete vaccination of over 70% in all targeted provinces.
- To provide support to improve the coverage of COVID 19 vaccination for the priority and susceptible population such as senior citizens, indigent population and booster doses for eligible groups such as health workers and others. This will be to achieve vaccination coverage of >90% with all recommended doses. Accelerate vaccination for indigent population and achieve vaccination coverage of >90% with all recommended doses.
- • Formulate detail plan with LGU on reaching and vaccination of the mentioned priority group.
- • Formulate Rapid Convenience Monitoring plan to assess coverage of priority groups.
- To provide support in ongoing routine immunization catch up and community-based immunization by formulating LGU based micro planning and providing support for frequent and timely (daily/weekly) monitoring of the coverage as per the LGU level coverage dashboard.
- Provide supervision and monitoring support for the recruited health human resource in the supported provinces. Evaluate and assess the performance of the provinces and guide them accordingly to meet the coverage target as highlighted above.
- Provide technical support and guidance to integrate the immunization services for COVID-19 and routine
- Expand and accelerate vaccination for other high-risk populations (e.g. individuals with comorbidities, high-risk sociodemographic groups, high-risk employment groups, etc.)
- Collaborate with Local Chief executives and advocate for higher vaccination coverage for the eligible people. Provide support to expand the reach of communication and social mobilization initiatives to generate vaccine demand, increase confidence on safety of COVID 19 vaccines, and other measures to stop the COVID transmission even after vaccination.
- To provide necessary support to enhance the VPD and AEFI surveillance and relevant response in the CHD’s. Provide technical guidance to improve the process of sample collection from the health facilities and infectious disease and children’s hospital.
METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY
Output 1:
Support the CHD to have an effective RVOC platform with daily coverage tracking and analysis of the priority groups coverage and tangible action points in collaboration and coordination with the LVOC. This will be for both COVID and routine immunization coverage (measles and polio).
Output 2:
Support the CHD to formulate and utilize operational plans (“micro plan”) for implementing COVID-19 vaccination strategies and measles and polio catch up vaccination. Perform monitoring and evaluation for the COVID 19 vaccination with available tools from WHO and National DOH.
Output 3:
Provide weekly report to WHO and NVOC on the progress. Formulate and present bi-monthly progress and status of vaccine utilization, priority population vaccination and other related matters on deep dive meeting with WHO IMST.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
The contractual partner must fulfil the following qualifications:
Education required
University degree in health-related field
Desirable: Masters of Public Health
Experience required
At least 5-7 years experience in total in immunization programme (e.g. polio, measles, vaccination campaign, etc. in developing countries) preferably immunization experts who worked for the response to cVDPV outbreak in Philippines at the provincial level. Experience in COVID vaccination support is essential.
Skills / Technical skills and knowledge
Skills and knowledge on mass vaccination campaign and VPD and AEFI surveillance in areas or countries
Language requirements
Proficient in written and spoken English
Competencies
- • Teamwork
- • Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
- • Communication
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Medical clearance
The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.
Contract duration
21 September to 21 December 2022
APPLICATIONS
Qualified and interested specialists should submit their CV {for individual contractors} and Expression of Interest {cover letter} to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by 16 September 2022.
The cover letter should outline how their experience and qualifications make them a suitable candidate for this position and should include their proposed daily consultancy fee and availability.
Please use Tender Notice No. 181838 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.
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