Workshops advocating ASEAN Vaccine Security and Self-Reliance (AVSSR): A regional initiative

Abstract

The concept of ASEAN Vaccine Security and Self-Reliance (AVSSR) has recently been advocated for by the National Vaccine Institute (NVI), a public organization of Thailand, through two workshops in 2014 and 2015 organized in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) for the ASEAN Collaboration Initiatives for Regional Vaccine Security and Self-Reliance (VSSR). In both workshops relevant policy makers, Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) managers, and experts from government and partner agencies involved in the vaccine life cycle actively participated. A paradigm shift in leveraging the initiatives of VSSR from national to regional levels was noted and reiterated. The first workshop's objective was to understand the perspectives and identify the needs of ASEAN countries regarding vaccine security, and to list potential areas for further collaboration. The existing vaccine-related capacities, collaborations, and networks in ASEAN were discussed based on findings from a pre-workshop, self-administered questionnaire survey. The workshop ended with four key areas unanimously recommended for regional collaboration strengthening: (1) system development for vaccine security; (2) human resource development; (3) ASEAN price policy for vaccine (APPV) and pooled procurement; and (4) communication and coordination. A call for immediate action was made, prompting the second workshop to focus only on "communication and coordination" to identify concrete, actionable collaborative models for effective communication and coordination. At the second workshop, a five-year Communication and Coordination Action Plan (CCAP) was developed to foster long-term AVSSR. The AVSSR's ultimate goal is to avoid incidental vaccine shortage and ensure sufficient supply of affordable, quality vaccines for normal and urgent situations both at the national and ASEAN-wide levels. To date, collaboration for AVSSR is being strengthened according to the ASEAN post-2015 Health Development Agenda and its collaborative framework among concerned countries and development partners. Nevertheless, to achieve the goal, integration of multiple strategies based upon strong policy commitment and uninterrupted engagement among relevant partners are required.

Keywords: ASEAN Post-2015 Health Development Agenda; ASEAN Vaccine Security and Self-Reliance; AVSSR; NVI; National Vaccine Institute (Thailand); Shortage of vaccine; Vaccine.