COVID-19 vaccination challenge. Is everyone ready for the next shot?
COVID-19 is the virus that has demonstrated that all of us are vulnerable in this pandemic, no matter who we are and where we live. These times of social distancing and lockdowns have given, to most of us, enough time to think about the future and the experiences learned from the past. COVID-19 has erased the perception that the vaccines are only for children. Since the first vaccine was invented in 1797, all nations dream of achieving universal immunization. Vaccination has always been the hero of humanity, given opportunities for many people and preventing diseases and giving hope and certainty about tomorrow to all of us. This time is not an exception. This outbreak needs a hero called “vaccine”. It represents the hope that one day, everyone will return to the life we had before the pandemic. One day, sooner or later, the COVID-vaccine will come, and everyone should be ready for the task. Every person on the planet should be able to enjoy a hug and be outside without fear to be infected. For more than two centuries, the universal vaccination challenge has been the dream for many, but the reality of some.
The current world has human rights, technology, science, and transportation systems that make us more interconnected with data than ever. However, it is still not enough to provide a drop or a shot to everyone. In this pandemic, not only the people are vulnerable, the national information systems and the health care systems are also defenceless. For many years, Shifo has worked with front-line health workers and families in low-income countries trying to bring sustainable and effective information systems, to help in reaching every woman and child with vaccines. At Shifo, we believe that the universal immunization is possible, that is why we provide sustainable and effective immunization systems, which can be implemented in all countries, regardless of their infrastructure limitations.
No country is entirely ready during this outbreak, but some countries are more prepared than others. Accomplishing universal immunization in low-income counties is more challenging than in other places. The lack of technology, electricity, logistics, access, education, cold-chain systems, delays, weather, and many more reasons that can be unimaginable in high-income countries had sculped Shifo’s experience in the immunization field. Despite obstacles, we are still on track.
We are strengthening the health information systems in Gambia, Afghanistan, Uganda, Kenya, and Haiti and Shifo’s Smart Paper Technology solution is supporting 960 health service delivery points, which includes fixed, outreach and mobile clinics. Together with Ministries of Health and partners, we have registered 530 095 children with unique IDs, of which 106 266 children are fully immunised now, and we are continuously working to expand. We are expecting to face the drop-out challenges, the lack of availability of resources and supply and the missed opportunity for vaccination, during these challenging times. Working with hard conditions is not easy. Sometimes our team have to work more time than expected, to deal with problems that are hard to tackle, to be more creative to face the crisis, to be stronger than the difficulties and the most important, to be perseverant. And no matter how difficult and challenging these times are for Shifo Team, we know that for the communities every day is a hard day. In times of challenges, we can not give up. We must keep working to solve problems and challenges, in order to reach a day when no mother or child die or suffer from preventable diseases.
This immunization week is the time to remember that we do not have to wait until the COVID-19 vaccine is ready, in order to have sustainable and effective immunization systems. The actions to shape the future of communities should be now, and the power of data should be available to everyone. Now is the right time to take actions, and Shifo is ready to be part of the battle.
Autor: Stefany Guarnizo. Editor: Rustam Nabiev
