COVID-19

The rapid spread of COVID-19 brought unprecedented challenges and has required unique approaches to developing and implementing vaccination programs around the world.

Vaccinating Against COVID-19

A key challenge to vaccination was the deployment of COVID-19 vaccines to reach adults and vulnerable populations in contexts without mechanisms to reach those people with services already in place. Health authorities had to develop plans for financing COVID-19 vaccination, establish policies and guidelines for this new vaccine, coordinate vaccine delivery, and build public confidence in and demand for the vaccine for people that did receive vaccination regularly before, all in record time.

Efforts to integrate COVID-19 vaccination with other health programs (e.g., routine childhood immunization, HIV, seasonal influenza) also presented opportunities and challenges for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Countries currently seek to provide COVID-19 vaccination as efficiently as possible to those at highest risk – older adults, those with other conditions, and pregnant women. Creative solutions to the challenge of making COVID-19 protection available to those who need it most range from including vaccination in the services delivered at HIV and TB clinics to exploring delivering Covid-19 vaccination along with seasonal influenza periodic campaigns.

The COVID-19 Vaccine Implementation Program (CoVIP)

Between 2021-2024, the COVID-19 Vaccine Implementation Program (CoVIP) – a program of The Task Force for Global Health – supported low- and middle-income countries to deploy and evaluate COVID-19 vaccines to establish sustainable systems for adult immunization programs.

Working with country partners throughout all stages of vaccine introduction from preparation through implementation and evaluation, CoVIP also provided support through financial grants and direct technical assistance.

Learn more about COVIP