Health Emergencies in Large Populations - The H.E.L.P. Course

1. Participants are able to identify priority diseases for preventive and /or re-active vaccination during acute and protracted crises (EPI / outside EPI)

1.1. Participants are able to list the key vaccination preventable diseases

■ Vaccine preventable diseases

■ Epidemic prone diseases

1.2. Participants are able to find and read the national vaccination programme and identify the risk of outbreaks based on existing gaps

■ Locating national calendar

■ Vaccination coverage; herd immunity threshold (%)

1.3. Participants are able to prioritize diseases to be tackled based on the likelihood of occurrence and severity

■ Basic reproductive number (Ro)

■ Case fatality rate (CFR)

■ Other criteria

• Transmission route

• Serial interval

• Incidence, duration, rate of complications

• Socio-economic impact, panic

• Cost

■ Worldwide – region specific

■ Measles!!

2. Participants are able to explain how they prioritize population groups for vaccination of selected diseases at times of limited vaccine availability

2.1. Participants are able to describe the difference between susceptibility and vulnerability

■ Susceptibility

• Non-immune populations /partly non-immune populations

■ Vulnerability

• Per-se vulnerable to the disease

• External factors due to crisis situations

■ Higher risk for complications /death

2.2. Participants are able to describe the age groups to be included during the vaccination

■ Standard age groups according to national vaccination calendar

■ Different situations:

• Routine vaccination

• When organizing a catch-up campaign

• In case of an epidemic

■ Herd immunity threshold to prevent an outbreak

2.3. Participants are able to identify the geographic area(s) for prioritization

■ Why is there a need for a geographic ‘limit'?

■ Camp vs rural vs urban/densely populated

• Risks related to population density

■ Estimated population, population and obstacles

• Logistical and security constraints

3. Participants are able to explain points to consider when planning the implementation of a vaccination programme / campaign

3.1. Participants are able to describe different elements required to carry out vaccination activities

■ Acceptability

• Spread of vaccine misinformation

• Managing of adverse effects of immunization (AEFI)

■ Accessibility

• Security

• Road networks, distance, population density, special events

■ Human resources (right mix)

■ Equipment and medical/ non-medical supplies

• Supply time vaccines and other supplies

■ Logistical support /capacity

■ Information & social mobilization

■ Vaccination recording / reporting

■ Financing

3.2. Participants are able to describe the different modes of organization

■ Selective vs non-selective vaccination

■ Fixed points vs door-to-door

• Advantages and disadvantages

3.3. Participants are able to list points to be integrated in the health information system

■ Routine reporting vs surveys

■ Vaccination coverage and target

• Target population

• Target coverage