Seasonal Influenza Programme

**Contractual Arrangement***: External consultant

**Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days)***: 6 months

**Job Posting***: May 24, 2023, 7:34:03 AM

**Closing Date***: May 31, 2023, 4:59:00 PM

**Primary Location***: Egypt-Cairo

**Organization***: EM/WHE WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE)

**Schedule***: Full-time

..
- **Purpose of the Consultancy**

To support the introduction, policy development, advocacy and evidence generation of seasonal influenza vaccination in the region. The consultant will also support the implementation of the regional seasonal influenza introduction roadmap in the priority countries.
- **Background**

In the last decade, countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) have invested in the establishment and strengthening of epidemiological and virological surveillance of influenza for determining the seasonality, severity and characteristics of virus circulation in the countries. With the support of WHO/EMRO, some countries in the region conducted studies that document the disease burden of annual influenza epidemics, while calculating the baseline/threshold values to aid in early detection of pandemic influenza. It is expected that the findings and recommendations from these studies will support the development and implementation of seasonal influenza introduction policies and programmes within the context of national health priorities in EMR countries.

A sustainable seasonal influenza program not only reduces disease burden, but also strengthens health systems and leads to better pandemic preparedness. Since it is conducted annually, seasonal influenza vaccination allows for countries to develop, practice and refine vaccine approval, distribution and delivery plans each year. Increasing national, regional, and global efforts to expand the use of seasonal vaccines provides economic and public health benefits today while developing the systems for pandemic response in the future.

There has been growing interest among EMR countries in defining seasonal influenza vaccination policy and establishing programme to increase the uptake and coverage of seasonal influenza vaccine among high-risk groups such as pregnant women, children, health care workers, chronically ill individuals, and elderly adults. In November 2019, WHO/EMRO in collaboration with US-CDC and Task Force for Global Health, organized a one-day consultative meeting to discuss ways to promote the use of seasonal influenza vaccine among high-risk groups in the EMR, and identified priority activities. The priority activities proposed are directly linked to the Global Influenza Strategy (2019-2030) and the outcomes of the above consultation meeting with partners and stakeholders in addition to the specific needs expressed by the countries. It is expected that implementation of these activities will be crucial to the successful introduction of seasonal influenza vaccination programs in the Region.

Start date: 25/06/2023

End date: 20/12/2023
- **Work to be performed**

Output 1: Measure the implementation rate of seasonal influenza vaccination introduction workplan activities for countries supported by The Partnership for Influenza Vaccine Introduction (PIVI)

Deliverable 1.1 Participate in the development of action plan, together with PIVI, Immunization program and WHO COs, on feasibility of introducing (in priority countries) and strategizing (in selected countries) seasonal influenza vaccination for vulnerable population groups. Deliverable 1.2 Assess the communication between PIVI, WHO-COs and country counterparts at the MoH to better implement their workplans of activities.

Output 2: Provide technical support to EMR priority countries for establishment and expansion of well-structured sustainable influenza vaccination programs.

Deliverable 2.1: Conduct technical missions with PIVI and other partners to priority countries to evaluate the implementation of seasonal influenza vaccination policies/programs.

Deliverable 2.2: Facilitate the organization of a sub-regional workshop with **National Advisory Technical Group on Immunization **(NITAGs) members and Expanded Programme on Immunization (EP)I managers on influenza vaccination resources, evidence review and recommendations development.

Deliverable 2.3: Prepare reports and document the progress done based on the results of the field mission and the workshops.

Output 3: Support selected countries in EMR to introduce seasonal influenza vaccination policies/programs.

Deliverable 3.1: Support priority countries to develop context-specific advocacy tools/communication material
- on seasonal influenza vaccination and annual tailored awareness
- raising campaigns.

Deliverable 3.2: Facilitate conduction of Behavioural and Social Drivers of Influenza Vaccination: Survey Matrix in priority countries.
- **Technical Supervision**

Hiring Manager: Dr Amal Barakat (First level), Infectious Hazard Preparedness Unit, Health Emergencies Department

Admin Focal point: M