The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that seasonal influenza is responsible for between 291,000 and 646,000 deaths each year worldwide. Influenza vaccination programs are not only important to reduce the annual impact of influenza, but they also strengthen preparedness for future epidemics and pandemics.
Countries with existing seasonal influenza vaccination programs were better able to import and use vaccines during the 2009 influenza pandemic. Furthermore, influenza program infrastructure supported COVID-19 efforts, with many countries repurposing their influenza pandemic preparedness plans and existing platforms – including reaching target groups such as Health Workers – for COVID-19 response.
PIVI helps to build and maintain these systems, and now for the first time in history, all countries have systems to reach and vaccinate adults.
Since 2013 PIVI has worked with partner countries through both vaccine donation and/or technical assistance to build and stabilize their influenza vaccination programs, resulting in more stable systems which have protected their populations from both influenza and COVID.
Both vaccine-recipient and technical-assistance only countries have (generally) increased their purchase of vaccine over time.
