STRENGTHENING IMMUNIZATION SYSTEMS THROUGH EFFECTIVE SUPPLY CHAINS: INSIGHTS FROM GLOBAL EFFECTIVE VACCINE MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE

The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), launched in 1974, is the world’s major vaccination program against vaccine preventable diseases. Despite progress, the program’s success, measured through coverage rates, has recently stalled, especially in low-income countries where access to vaccines remains challenging. EPI’s effectiveness relies heavily on the Immunization Supply Chain, but technological changes and new vaccine introductions have strained these systems, leading to stock-outs and risks due to outdated cold chain equipment. These challenges cause health disparities and undermine immunization coverage, particularly in contexts constrained by resource scarcity. Launched in 2010, Effective Vaccine Management (EVM) initiative addresses some of these concerns by improving and evaluating vaccine supply chain systems at large scale globally. This study, utilizing the EVM 2.0 to analyse data from 57 nations that are in the public domain between 2019 and 2023 using the EVM 2.0 assessment tool, offers an analysis of Immunization Supply Chain. The review shows the composite score of 73 which depicts an average performance overall with strengths in financial, human and managerial resources. However, information technology comes out as a weakness that exposes flaws in maintenance and repair mechanisms. The paper offers recommendations like more budgetary allocations towards IT, better infrastructure, personnel development and knowledge sharing. The limitations of the study include the absence of comprehensive subcategory scores and highlight the necessity of a more detailed analysis for more targeted suggestions for improvement.