Kingstown, St. Vincent, July 18th, 2025 (PAHO). The Events Supposedly Attributable to Vaccination or Immunization (ESAVI) program was assessed in St. Vincent and the Grenadines during a PAHO mission to strengthen the islands’ ESAVI surveillance systems.
The rapid assessment exercise was conducted in preparation for St Vincent and the Grenadines’ introduction of two new vaccines - Pneumococcal and Rotavirus vaccines, with the support of GAVI in partnership with PAHO and UNICEF. With the introduction of these two vaccines, it was important to reinforce the ESAVI surveillance system which included the development of an ESAVI manual, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and an ESAVI national committee.
Prior to the team visiting St. Vincent and the Grenadines, from 1- 11 July 2025, key informant online interviews were conducted with Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment officials. This included the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) Manager, Public Health Nurses, Staff Nurses, and Registered Nurses/Midwives. These interviews highlighted the structure of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines' National ESAVI Surveillance System, identified the strengths and weaknesses of the system, as well as provided recommendations to improve the current surveillance system.
During the in-country mission July 14th to 18th, interviews and meetings with health providers involved in vaccination was conducted as well as a review of the ESAVI surveillance system at each health clinic.
The information gathered from online interviews and the site visits provided the PAHO team with the data required to achieve the objectives of the rapid assessment exercise. The objectives were to:
- examine the ESAVI surveillance systems of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- identify the barriers and facilitators that influence the operation of the countries’ ESAVI surveillance systems
- conduct critical pathways/gap analysis of the ESAVI surveillance system
- provide recommendations to strengthen the countries’ ESAVI surveillance system
- conduct refresher training on ESAVI management for key health care providers
Dr. Amalia Del Riego, PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries (ECC), applauded the efforts of the Ministry of Health officials and the PAHO team. “The exercise in St. Vincent and the Grenadines brings us one step closer to achieving the goal of reinforcing the ESAVI surveillance system throughout Barbados and the ECC. Reinforcing the surveillance of ESAVI in countries will improve the quality and reliability of vaccine safety monitoring, an essential PAHO strategy for sustaining immunization programs, building community trust and protecting public health.”
