This newsletter edition is available in English, Portuguese, Spanish, and Russian.
In this newsletter edition, we have an important reminder. Our network-wide survey launched on 1 May, and we hope you will take the time to fill it out by 25 July. Your responses will help us understand how Linked’s collaborative learning approach has contributed to your country’s progress toward Gavi’s MICs approach objectives and how we can continue to adapt the network to be most responsive and effective in addressing your most pressing immunisation challenges and learning needs.
We are also pleased to share materials from two recent Linked webinars on Electronic Immunisation Registries. First, was a country spotlight showcasing how Uzbekistan is updating its systems and promoting data use. Speakers shared progress and lessons in more fully integrating their EIR, updating their platform, and promoting its use to citizens and practitioners across their country. Earlier this month was a follow-up webinar on Implementing the Digital Adaptation Kit (DAK) for Immunisation with experiences from Ghana, Tanzania, and Peru. The session highlighted the countries’ experiences in adapting the recently released WHO Immunisation Digital Adaptation Kit (DAK) to their national contexts, challenges they encountered, and lessons they learned.
As always, this newsletter also features relevant literature, guidance, case studies, and other tools from our partners and the global immunisation community, that will enhance your knowledge and skills for calculating the costs of vaccines, targeting and reaching zero-dose children, using a single HPV vaccine dose to prevent cervical cancer, and more.
Warm regards,
Elizabeth Ohadi, Program Director, Linked Immunisation Action Network
Network Updates
Make your voice heard: Responses for the Linked Network-Wide Survey are due 25 July
Our network-wide survey launched on 1 May, and we hope you will take the time to fill it out by 25 July. Your responses will help us understand how Linked’s collaborative learning approach has contributed to your country’s progress toward Gavi’s MICs approach objectives and how we can continue to adapt our approaches to be responsive and effective in addressing your most pressing immunisation challenges and learning needs. Make your voice heard and complete the Linked survey! Make sure to select the appropriate version of the survey link below.
- Take the network-wide survey (English version)
- Take the network-wide survey (French version)
- Take the network-wide survey (Portuguese version)
- Take the network-wide survey (Russian version)
- Take the network-wide survey (Spanish version)
- Take the network-wide survey (Regional / Local Partners version)
Learn more about EIRs with materials from two recent webinars
Linked Country Spotlight: How Uzbekistan is updating its systems and promoting data use
On 14 May, Linked brought together countries and implementing partners for an open discussion on progress and challenges developing Uzbekistan’s Electronic Immunisation Register (EIR). Speakers shared progress and lessons in more fully integrating their EIR, updating their platform, and promoting its use to citizens and practitioners across their country.
Implementing the DAK for Immunisation with experiences from Ghana, Peru, and Tanzania
On 11 June, Linked hosted a collaborative learning session featuring immunisation leaders and supporting partners working in Peru, Tanzania, and Ghana. The session highlighted their experiences in adapting the recently released WHO Immunisation Digital Adaptation Kit (DAK) to their national contexts, challenges they encountered, and lessons they learned.
Featured News & Resources
Global socioeconomic inequalities in vaccination coverage, supply, and confidence
A new global study analyzes socioeconomic inequalities in vaccination coverage, supply disruptions, and public confidence from 2015–2023. Key findings show that inequalities initially decreased post-SDGs but reversed during COVID-19, with 94 countries reporting vaccine stock-outs and lower confidence observed in wealthier nations. Use the insights from these findings to strengthen supply-chain monitoring, prioritize equity-focused interventions, and tailor confidence-building strategies to address context-specific socioeconomic barriers. View the findings here.
UNICEF-WHO National Immunisation Strategy analysis in 51 countries on strategies developed between 2021 and 2024
A review of 51 National Immunisation Strategy (NIS) documents from low- and middle- income countries has been conducted, showing that countries are setting specific targets to reach IA2030 goals, that linkages to primary health care have been strengthened and that NISs are increasingly being used to demonstrate country ownership and for resource mobilization. Examine the analysis here.
Pay-it-forward as a strategy to increase vaccine uptake
An article in BMC Global and Public Health examines the pay-it-forward strategy as a promising solution to increase vaccine uptake by encouraging individuals who receive subsidies or free vaccines to donate for future recipients, fostering community engagement and trust in vaccine services. The article also looks at the challenges in scaling up and sustaining this strategy which should be addressed through future large-scale implementation trials. Read the article here.
Challenges and lessons learned in zero-dose vaccination strategies in Ethiopia
To understand and assess the challenges and opportunities in reaching zero-dose children in Ethiopia, a qualitative study was conducted by Fenot Associates and ThinkWell as part of a project aimed at estimating the cost of reaching zero-dose children. The study evaluated two key vaccination strategies aimed at reaching zero-dose children: 1) Periodic Intensification of Routine Immunization and 2) Mobile Health and Nutrition Teams. Discover the challenges and key lessons learned here.
How to use PATH’s Vaccine Cost Calculators for middle-income countries: a tutorial video
This six-minute video provides a brief tutorial on how to use PATH’s Vaccine Cost Calculators for middle-income countries. These Excel-based tools are available in English, French, and Spanish and offer an easy way to compare the costs of certain vaccination programs (either for a new introduction or a product switch) with each vaccine product available in the global market. The video is in English, with French and Spanish subtitled versions also available. Watch the tutorial video here.
How a single HPV vaccine dose can prevent cervical cancer
Groundbreaking research reveals that a single dose of HPV vaccine provides durable protection against cervical cancer due to its unique virus-like particle design, which triggers potent long-lasting immune responses without boosters. With WHO endorsing single-dose schedules and nearly 70 countries already adopting this approach, stakeholders can expand coverage—especially in resource-limited settings—by reallocating doses and accelerating new vaccine evaluations (like 9-valent products) to save more lives. Click here to read the blog to understand the science and implications.
Country Spotlights
How Sri Lanka’s immunisation system – one of the region’s strongest – is weathering an economic crisis
Years of investment in medical personnel, social trust, infrastructure and vaccines constitute a strong foundation, and support from international partners has gone a long way in Sri Lanka. Learn how strategies to build community awareness and trust, and investments in cold chain and distribution systems have paid off in this VaccinesWork story here.
Angolans spread the word: cervical cancer is vaccine-preventable
Cervical cancers account for 19% of all new cancer diagnoses in Angola. But a growing movement is trying to spread awareness of the fact that a single dose of human papillomavirus vaccine – soon to be publicly available across the country – can block that risk. Explore how marches and lectures are generating demand for the vaccine here.
A jab of hope: kindness fuels Sri Lanka’s HPV vaccination success
Sri Lanka’s HPV vaccination programme is well on its way to squashing the second-commonest cancer among the country’s women. Learn how Sri Lanka is able to achieve over 90% coverage for HPV vaccines in this VaccinesWork story here.
External Events
Watch the recording from webinar on Unlocking Tailored Solutions: Understanding Root Causes and Barriers to Reaching Zero-Dose Children and Missed Communities
This 90-minute webinar featured immunisation experts from the Gates Foundation’s Zero-Dose Learning Agenda (ZDLA) and ZDLH Country Learning Hub teams. Speakers examined the spectrum of factors—from high-level policy and system enablers to service-delivery constraints, community-level demand, and socio-cultural dynamics—influencing the ability to identify, monitor, and measure zero-dose children and missed communities. Watch the recording and view the presentation materials here.