“PIVI, based at the Task Force for Global Health, together with our partners at the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are committed to a long-term relationship with Lebanon to create a sustainable and impactful annual influenza vaccination programme that will also be a critical tool for the pandemic response. We are very excited about this collaboration”, stated Dr Joseph Bresee.
This partnership is going to be sustained and renewed for the next 3 to 5 years. The MoU highlights the fact that this is a long-term partnership with the Ministry. PIVI is donating the vaccines and providing technical support.
WHO’s role is to provide technical support and expertise in terms of all the technical areas that will come with the agreement which will be funded by PIVI under Task Force for Global Health through the WHO Regional Office.
The formal partnership comes after intensive discussions involving the Expanded Programme onr Immunization committee, with the chair of the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) and other relevant immunization-related parties at the national level.
“This MOU and the support of the Task Force for Global Health and CDC to Lebanon is an important opportunity to strengthen Lebanon's capacity to monitor influenza and foster preparedness for future pandemics. WHO support that started several years ago will continue to further expand national capacity for integration of the influenza vaccine at the level of PHC, and foster preparedness, prevention and response in Lebanon, within the overall national health sector strategy,” said Dr Alissar Rady.
This important partnership falls under WHO’s objective of working hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Public Health, in collaboration with global health entities to ensure regular access to vaccines and other health-related care to citizens.
