Slideshow: Strengthening Vaccination in High Risk Groups in North Macedonia

Since 2018, PIVI has worked with North Macedonia’s Ministry of Health to drive impactful influenza vaccination campaigns. With PIVI’s support, the Ministry of Health has delivered educational workshops, provided technical support, and spearheaded community engagement initiatives. Since PIVI’s support began, North Macedonia’s government has tripled the amount of influenza vaccine they purchase and expanded vaccination to more people at risk of severe disease and death from influenza.

The Ministry of Health has expanded its vaccination sites to include, new health clinics, the public health department, assisted care facilities, and mobile vaccination units making it easier for people at risk to be vaccinated.  The commitment of the Ministry of Health has not only protected the citizens of North Macedonia against influenza each year, but the improved immunization program has also made the country more prepared for future pandemics.

For more insight on their vaccination campaign, browse through the photos below. All images courtesy of Zvonko Plavevski for PIVI (2023). 

PIVI collaborates with the CDC, Ministries of Health, corporate partners, and others to establish and strengthen sustainable, stable influenza vaccination programs in low- and middle-income countries like North Macedonia. In the capital city of Skopje an older patient gets his influenza vaccine. The WHO lists older adults as a recommended risk group for influenza vaccination.
Health workers are also part of WHO’s recommended risk group for vaccination and are prioritized in PIVI’s partnership with North Macedonia. Through educational workshops, health workers learn about the vaccine’s efficacy and importance. Vaccination is crucial for safeguarding both health workers and their patients.
The influenza vaccine must be refrigerated (35 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit) to preserve its effectiveness. PIVI collaborates with countries to enhance vaccine management systems and cold chain capacities, leveraging web-based training platforms to provide comprehensive training and support for health workers involved in vaccine storage and handling.
North Macedonia administered 3,500 doses of the influenza vaccine during its first year or partnership with PIVI (2019-2020). The following year, this number surged to 20,000 and has remained fairly consistent annually at this level. PIVI provides technical support to partner countries to help build resilient immunization infrastructure and vaccine delivery systems essential for addressing future respiratory pandemics and other infectious disease outbreaks.
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