Armenia: Rotavirus vaccines
Advocacy for rotavirus vaccine introduction
In April 2010, PATH partnered with the Armenian Scientific and Practical Center for the Protection of Public Health and Social Rights to advocate for rotavirus vaccine introduction in Armenia.
A study carried out by the partners demonstrated that high-level ministry officials, academics, leading pediatricians and other key decision makers and belief setters were primarily concerned if the disease burden in the country warrants vaccination, whether the vaccine is effective and safe, and whether Armenia can afford a new vaccine now and sustain its use in the future without donor support. Position of the WHO, evidence of the vaccine cost effectiveness in the region and evidence of public health impact in developed countries that had introduced the vaccine earlier, were shown to be important factors in the decision making process, too.
The partners have developed a rotavirus vaccine advocacy strategy for Armenia that aims to demonstrate the disease burden in the country, available evidence on efficacy, safety, cost-effectiveness, the public health impact, and global lessons of rotavirus immunization, address other specific concerns of key Armenian decision-makers to achieve a political consensus among the broad group of stakeholders on the value of rotavirus immunization and to lay the ground work for the MOH and donors to eventually adopt the vaccine.
The implementation of the strategy is in progress: the advocacy materials are being developed, a number of advocacy workshops, roundtables and meetings are scheduled for July-September 2010.
Contributed by PATH
