New Project on mitigating the impact and controlling the COVID-19 pandemic in Central Asia

The agenda of the meeting was very extensive: the implementation of the project in the regions in line with the strategic priorities of National Immunization Plan of Action, with specific emphasis to address immunization inequity at subnational/community level and devise locally tailored interventions to achieve and sustain high vaccination coverage, experiences on specific immunization challenges, including Measles-rubella and other Vaccine-preventable disease, immunization information systems, vaccine safety systems, and hepatitis B control.

The overall objective of this project is to contribute to mitigating the impact and controlling the COVID-19 pandemic in Central Asia and reinforcing their longer-term health resilience. More specifically, the project will provide assistance for:  a rapid and safe roll-out of vaccines, including setting up necessary information management systems and capacity building of health care workers and professionals involved in vaccination roll-out; building long-term resilience of routine immunization systems to manage future vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks, including adequate monitoring and evaluation practices, development of national immunization plans and addressing vaccination inequity and  building the capacity of CAR to achieve universal health coverage through the digitalization of health systems and increased ability to collect and use quality health data. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance for countries to strive for a resilient health system within the domain of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Building upon the good practices of the implementation of the Phase one of the project, a primary health care approach focusing on organizing and strengthening health systems will be emphasized so that people can access essential primary health care services including immunization, infection prevention and control.

National immunization programme achieved very good results both in providing sustainability immunization programme during pandemic period and in quick deployment of COVID-19 vaccination in practice. Uzbekistan reached very good COVID-19 vaccination coverage. According to Administrative data 87.4% of all population older than 19 year received full initial vaccination course and 81.5% received first booster dose.

Despite of end of COVID-19 PHEIC, COVID-19 still playing a role in the development of severe complications and consequences leading to death. The virus is here to stay, and countries need to integrate COVID-19 surveillance and response activities into routine health programmes. Further step should be addressed on Integration COVID-19 vaccination into life course vaccination programmes and maintain efforts to increase COVID-19 vaccination coverage for all people in the high-priority groups.

Uzbekistan is moving forward in this direction, already COVID-19 vaccination indicated in the National SanPIN (Sanitary rules and norms) “Immunoprofilaxis”. But still some gaps: vaccine coverage among people other 60 years is about 66%. It is necessary to pay more efforts on increase vaccination coverage in that group, because people older 60 years is under the highest risk of development severe case and death.

The pandemic has revealed many problems in the healthcare system, but it has also revealed strengths. Human potential has become the main factor in the success of the implementation of anti-epidemic measures and crisis response. Continuation of capacity building process a key element in ensuring the safety of the population and the sustainability of medical programs, including vaccines.

Capacity building makes it possible to significantly strengthen human resources, redistribute them and use them more efficiently.

The project is based on the principle that “no one is safe until everyone is safe”, as outlined in the Communication of 19 January 2021 on a united front to beat COVID-19. This Action will support deployment of vaccines received by CAR through COVAX, the EU sharing mechanisms, and direct procurement from producers of COVID-19 vaccines. The project will be also embedded into the Team Europe approach focused on the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3 “Good Health and Well-being”.