14 November 2021 – This week, as key players in creating demand for vaccine, Syrian health care workers built their capacities and strengthened skills in managing vaccine hesitancy as part of the COVID-19 response.​ The interactive training organized by the Ministry of Health and WHO, in partnership with UNICEF, IFRC and SARC aims to identify and address issues that may affect vaccine uptake in the community – issues that include health workers’ personal concerns and beliefs about vaccination. 

“Availability and accessibility of COVID-19 vaccines do not automatically guarantee an effective rollout and uptake among the Syrian population. As more COVID-19 vaccines are delivered to Syria, all concerned sectors are joining hands to facilitate vaccine roll out and acceptance to reach the national target of 20% by the end of the year,” said Dr Akjemal Magtymova, Head of Mission and WHO Representative in Syria. 

Our collective work now is not limited to combating COVID-19, but also building national capacities and skills to address strategically vaccine hesitancy, rumours and misinformation that may pose an even more serious threat. Throughout the ongoing vaccination process and as more vaccines have become available, the health care workforce will play a critical role in supporting effective risk communication and community engagement to promote the safety and efficacy of vaccines to help increase the vaccination rates.

Summary 

On 5 November 2021 Syria received 1 356 000 doses of Sinovac through the COVAX Facility. The same round allocation of 358 800 doses of Sinovac were delivered to northwest on 3 September to increase availability of vaccines to respond to emerging needs of the population. After the first consignment received in April this year, this batch is the largest to arrive via COVAX and represents 66% of all COVAX deliveries. Vaccines will be administered as part of the ongoing national vaccination campaign across the country. Syria also received 115 200 doses of AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine supported by Sweden through the COVAX Facility on 6 November. On 4 November 108 000 doses of AstraZeneca were delivered to northwest Syria through COVAX. 

As of 12 November, 2 616 240 doses have been delivered through COVAX and 1 345 000 through bilateral agreements – enough to cover 10.2% of the population. Over 7.3 million doses of vaccines are expected to be delivered in the nearest future through COVAX, which is sufficient to cover additional 27.7% of the population. 

Vaccination strategies

Two different vaccination strategies were applied in various parts of the country. In northwest Syria, the first batch of vaccines was used for the first dose vaccination, while in government-controlled areas and in northeast Syria (where vaccination is administered as part of the national immunization programme) the total quantity of available vaccines from the first batch were equally split into two parts to rollout the first and the second dose vaccination accordingly. With the second and consequent batches sent to government-controlled areas, northeast and northwest Syria, the strategy is to use all available vaccines since new consignments are expected in the nearest future. 

Priority groups 

As per the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan, the vaccination priority groups include high-risk population groups such as: 1) health workers; 2) the elderly; and 3) people with co-morbidities. Since September 2021 all adults over 18 have been offered the vaccine. 

Challenges

Arrival of vaccines late in a year makes it difficult for timely implementation of vaccination putting pressure on already fragile health system. However, the more vaccines are supplied the closer we are to achieve the national target of 20% of vaccination coverage by end of 2021, to reduce severe complications and deaths from COVID-19 and combat the pandemic.

Abd

Abd, 7, lives in Dar Kabira, Syria and suffers from nocturnal enuresis. His mother took him to the paediatric clinic at the community centre where, upon examination, the physician found no physiological cause for the condition and referred the child to the psycho-social support team.

Abd attended WHO-supported individual sessions together with his mother. He was engaged in a psychosocial programme while his mother was given guidance on ways in which she can help her son. Abd’s conditions gradually improved. Abd celebrates his small victories as he has finally overcome his medical condition and feels extremely proud. 

Rawaa Najia

Rawaa Najia, 14, lives in Grandad village in Syria. She has been attending psychosocial support sessions held by WHO team during regular visits to the village. Rawaa used to shy away when upset and have difficulty expressing her feelings and communicating with her mother and peers in groups.

After attending sessions focused on self-expression, Rawaa has strengthened her skills in verbal communication and finds herself able to deal with her emotions. This in turn has positively impacted her relationship with her mother and time spent with friends and neighbours. 

Hamida

Hamida, 51, lives in Aldar Alkabira, Syria. While she was recovering from COVID-19, she felt completely isolated as her extended family and friends stopped calling her stigmatizing her current condition. Hamida was distressed and afraid that she can pose a danger for her family.

Hamida called the local psychosocial support centre supported by WHO and shared her feelings. Through the phone, the psychotherapist raised her awareness about the COVID-19 virus and what healthy practices she could exercise to avoid the stress. After recovery, Hamida continued visiting the centre and being engaged in individual sessions. Now she feels stronger physically and mentally. “It was very helpful having someone to talk to and confide in at the difficult time, especially, when feeling guilt and fear,” says Hamida.