WHO issues guidelines to develop a national deployment and vaccination plan

The World Health Organization has issued a set of guidelines for countries to develop a national deployment and vaccination plan for COVID-19 vaccines. Q) What are the WHO's guidelines for the deployment of the vaccine? The World Health Organization has called on countries to implement a coordinated deployment plan communicated to all levels of supply chain managers in respect of the vaccine. The global health body has also insisted on having adequately trained health staff, a sufficient cold chain capacity, and an efficient supply chain system as well. Another recommendation was the introduction of a data recording and reporting mechanism for vaccines and cold chain equipment. Q) What are the guidelines on financing the vaccine? The World Health Organization has said that the country's short-term budget should consider the initial allocation that covers 20 percent of the population including health workers, elderly, and sick individuals. It added that the medium-term budget should consider the population beyond the initial 20 percent. Q) What is the vaccine storage mechanism recommended by the WHO? The WHO has said most vaccines will be stored at a temperature of 2 to 8 degrees while some would require ultra-cold chain equipment with a temperature of minus 70 degrees Celcius. Accordingly, countries need to assess the existing supply chain system in terms of storage, distribution, temperature monitoring and tracking, tracing and reporting vaccine stocks.