Introducing COVID-19 vaccination: Guidance for determining priority groups and microplanning ‒ 2021

Introduction to the course

One year from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists around the world have made rapid progress in developing safe and effective vaccines that will help reduce COVID-19-associated illness, hospitalizations, and deaths. These vaccines are expected to make a significant contribution to the equitable protection and promotion of human well-being and the gradual return to social, economic, work, and family activities.

Initially, however, it is anticipated that all countries will face limited availability of vaccine doses. This means that it will be necessary to identify priority groups for vaccination and develop microplanning for systematic, organized vaccination aimed at achieving the established vaccination goals.

Purpose of the course

The purpose of this course is to provide health personnel with guidance for planning the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines, prioritize the population groups to be vaccinated, and develop microplanning at the operational level[LMD(1] .

Learning objectives

By the end of this course, participants should be able to:

• Identify the criteria recommended by PAHO/WHO for prioritizing population groups to be vaccinated.
• Use the tool to determine social vulnerability to COVID-19.
• Implement tiered vaccination[LMD(2]  based on vaccine availability.
• Develop step-by-step microplanning to introduce the COVID-19 vaccine.

Structure of the course

The course consists of five (5) units:

• Unit I:   Determination of priority population groups for vaccination.
• Unit II:  Evaluation of community vulnerability to COVID-19.
• Unit III: Vaccination in phases / tiers.
• Unit IV: Microplanning.
• Unit V:  Development of microplanning. 

Duration

The course will take approximately two (2) hours to complete.

Certification

Participants who review all material and respond to the Virtual Campus for Public Health (VCPH) quality survey will be able to download the certificate of participation issued by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).