Deployment of COVID-19 vaccine in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region 2021-23: How do we switch to a life course approach?

In 2020-2021, all countries of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region [EMR] introduced COVID-19 vaccine with inequalities in coverage across countries. As for 2023, we reviewed subsequent progress in deployment, coverage, acceptance, and integration. As of 31 December 2023, coverage in EMR reached 51% for primary series and 19 % for the first booster, higher in high income countries (77 % and 44 %, respectively) than in upper middle-income countries (49 % and 20 %), Advance Market Commitment [AMC] non-Gavi eligible countries (47 % and 15 %) and AMC Gavi eligible countries (49 % and 16 %).

Progress Toward Measles Elimination - Eastern Mediterranean Region, 2013-2019.

In 1997, during the 41st session of the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean, the 21 countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region* (EMR) passed a resolution to eliminate measles (1). In 2015, this goal was included as a priority in the Eastern Mediterranean Vaccine Action Plan 2016-2020 (EMVAP) (2), endorsed at the 62nd session of the Regional Committee (3). To achieve this goal, the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean developed a four-pronged strategy: 1) achieve ≥95% vaccination coverage with the first dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV1) among children in every district of each country through routine immunization services; 2) achieve ≥95% vaccination coverage with a second MCV dose (MCV2) in every district of each country either through implementation of a routine 2-dose vaccination schedule or through supplementary immunization activities (SIAs); 3) conduct high-quality, case-based surveillance in all countries; and 4) provide optimal measles clinical case management, including dietary supplementation with vitamin A (4).

Progress Toward Measles Elimination - Pakistan, 2000-2018.

In 1997, the 21 countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region* (EMR) passed a resolution during the 41st session of the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean to eliminate measles (1). In 2015, this goal was included as a priority in the Eastern Mediterranean Vaccine Action Plan 2016-2020 (2), approved at the 62nd session of the Regional Committee (3). To achieve measles elimination, the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean developed the following four-pronged strategy: 1) achieve ≥95% vaccination coverage with the first dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV) among children in every district of each country through routine immunization services; 2) achieve ≥95% vaccination coverage with a second MCV dose in every district of each country either through implementation of a routine 2-dose vaccination schedule or through supplementary immunization activities (SIAs); 3) conduct high-quality, case-based measles surveillance in all countries; and 4) provide optimal measles clinical case management, including dietary supplementation with vitamin A (4).