The main purpose of seasonal influenza vaccination is to avoid severe disease from infection with the influenza virus. Currently, 42 countries and territories in the Americas offer influenza vaccination to nationally-defined high-risk groups.
PAHO Response
Influenza vaccination remains the best available measure to reduce the burden of severe influenza. Vaccines are also the most effective intervention to prevent seasonal influenza and respond to pandemics.
Mandates
PAHO's Technical Advisory Group on Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (TAG) recommended that all countries should establish a seasonal influenza vaccination policy that seeks to vaccinate:
- children 6-23 months of age,
- pregnant women,
- individuals with chronic illness,
- older adults,
- and health workers.
PAHO’s technical cooperation aims to:
- Support generation of strategic information on disease and economic burden estimates and vaccine effectiveness and impact studies through; REVELAC-i to guide decision making.
- In collaboration with the PAHO Revolving Fund facilitate rapid access and distribution of seasonal influenza and pandemic vaccines;
- Build vaccine awareness and confidence to increase influenza vaccine uptake in priority groups;
- Ensure continuous learning through documentation and sharing of lessons learned and best practices.
PANDEMIC INFLUENZA
— Technical guidelines for vaccination against the pandemic influenza virus
— Response to Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in the Americas: Lessons and Challenges
— Template: Plan of Action and Budget Pandemic Vaccination
— Course "Pandemic Influenza Vaccines: National Deployment and Vaccination Plans"
