Vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization (Resolution)

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTÉ R E S O L U T I O N REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE WESTERN PACIFIC COMITE RÉGIONAL DU PACIFIQUE OCCIDENTAL WPR/RC71.R1 9 October 2020 VACCINE-PREVENTABLE DISEASES AND IMMUNIZATION The Regional Committee, Recalling the Regional Committee for the Western Pacific’s 2014 endorsement of the Regional Framework for Implementation of the Global Vaccine Action Plan in the Western Pacific (WPR/RC65.R5) and its eight regional immunization goals: sustaining polio-free status; measles elimination; rubella elimination; maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination; accelerated control of hepatitis B; accelerated control of Japanese encephalitis; introduction of new vaccines; and meeting regional vaccination coverage targets; Recalling also the August 2020 World Health Assembly adoption of the Immunization Agenda 2030 (WHA73(9)) and its goals: to reduce mortality and morbidity due to vaccine- preventable diseases for all age groups across the life course; to decrease disease burden by increasing equitable access to and use of new and existing vaccines; and to ensure good health and well-being for everyone by strengthening immunization within primary health care and contributing progress towards universal health coverage and sustainable development; Noting that the Region has maintained polio-free status and has continued to significantly reduce the prevalence of hepatitis B infection among children; nine countries and areas have been verified as having achieved and maintained measles elimination, and five countries and areas as having achieved and maintained rubella elimination as of 2019; WPR/RC71.R1 page 2 Further noting that several new vaccines have been introduced in many countries and more vaccines have become available for adolescents, adults and older people in all countries of the Region; Recognizing that the COVID-19 pandemic has seriously affected national efforts for immunization and prevention of vaccine-preventable diseases; Concerned that many people continue to be left behind by national immunization efforts, with the numbers of unvaccinated people even increasing in some countries, which led to the emergence, resurgence and large-scale import-related outbreaks of several vaccine-preventable diseases in high-risk communities of the Region in 2018 and 2019; Deeply concerned that the risk of emergence, resurgence and outbreaks of vaccine- preventable diseases continues to increase in countries of the Region; Reaffirming that no one should be left behind in national immunization efforts; the benefits of vaccines and immunization should be maximized throughout the life course; immunity gaps in populations should be closed; and the preparedness for and response to public health emergencies related to vaccine-preventable diseases, vaccines and immunization programmes should always be optimized, 1. ENDORSES the Regional Strategic Framework for Vaccine-preventable Diseases and Immunization in the Western Pacific (2021–2030); 2. URGES Member States: (1) to reaffirm their commitment to regional immunization goals and targets set by the Regional Committee; WPR/RC71.R1 page 3 (2) to develop or update national policies, strategies and plans for immunization and vaccine-preventable disease control and elimination, guided by the Regional Strategic Framework; (3) to work to ensure adequate technical and financial resources are available for the implementation of national strategies and plans of immunization and vaccine-preventable disease control and elimination; (4) to work to ensure that immunization and vaccine-preventable disease control and elimination efforts strengthen overall national health systems and support other public health programmes; 3. REQUESTS the Regional Director: (1) to provide technical support for Member States to develop or update and implement national policies, strategies and plans for immunization and vaccine- preventable disease control and elimination in line with the Regional Strategic Framework; (2) to advocate and enhance regional and international collaboration for further strengthening immunization and accelerating vaccine-preventable disease control and elimination; (3) to report progress periodically on the implementation of the Regional Strategic Framework for Vaccine-preventable Diseases and Immunization in the Western Pacific (2021–2030). Third meeting, 9 October 2020