Roster of Consultants - Vaccine Safety

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Qualifications

1)    Background 

The countries of the African region are confronted with a health situation characterized by a constant threat of epidemics (meningitis, measles, malaria, etc.) and other communicable and non-communicable diseases. To meet these challenges, countries have adopted strategies of which widespread vaccination, the most lifesaving health policy.

At the WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO), the Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD) programme, located within the Universal Health Coverage / Communicable & Non-Communicable Diseases Cluster, works, as guided by the Business case for WHO immunization activities on the African continent 2018-2030, to attain, by 2030, a sustained control of VPDs; a major decrease in mortality due to measles, rubella, rotavirus and pneumococcal diseases; 1.9 million lives saves; 167 million VPD cases averted; US$58 billion spared; and a 37-fold of estimated return on investment.

Vaccine safety is key to implementing and sustaining successful immunization programs. The deployment of Covid-19 vaccines has highlighted the concerns of the beneficiaries of vaccination towards safety, stressing the need of adequate monitoring of and response to adverse events. The WHO-AFRO provides technical support to countries in strengthening their vaccine safety systems and effective safety monitoring during immunization activities.

With the forthcoming new vaccine introductions and special immunization activities, the UCN-VPD is constituting a roster of consultants that can be deployed to support vaccine safety effective monitoring. The existence of the roster is expected to reduce the timeline of deployment, especially during emergencies. The objective of the deployment is to facilitate the safety monitoring during the use of vaccines in the African Region by providing technical support in:

·       capacity building of HCWs on vaccine safety surveillance

·       the comprehensive data collection during investigation of serious AEFI cases following vaccination

·       the AEFI data compilation at all levels and timely transmission via the national AEFI flow for utilization

·       the investigation of serious cases

·       the national stakeholders’ collaboration on pharmacovigilance

·       supervision on pharmacovigilance, integrated or focused

·       the implementation of active search protocols

·       organizing and reporting on the national AEFI committee meetings

·       execution of the risk communication strategy

·       Documenting success stories

             2)    Deliverables:

All reports on AEFI timely shared in Vigibase

At least 60% of serious AEFI investigated within one week of occurrence and 90% within 3 weeks

Pharmacovigilance data in the national IDSR weeklies

Monthly surveillance reports

Reports of all experts committee meetings

All causally assessed cases computed in the causality assessment archiving form and updated in Vigiflow

Success stories documented

Monthly milestone tracker

          3)    Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Education (Qualifications)

Essential:

·       Master’s degree in Public Health or in Epidemiology or in a related field from a recognized institution. 

 Desirable:

·       Doctorate or PhD in Medicine or Pharmacy or Public Health. 

Experience

Essential: 

•        Minimum of 7 years in health program or research institution or medical/pharmaceutical practice. 

•       Experience in implementing in-country disease surveillance or pharmacovigilance system 

•       Experience in working in Africa or in developing countries. 

  Desirable: 

  •        Experience in working with national stakeholders on pharmacovigilance, including National Regulatory Authority, Expanded Program on Immunization, Disease Surveillance and Control
  • Demonstrated understanding of hospital setting for management of serious cases
  • Demonstrated ability to organize experts committee meeting.  
  • Experience with WHO or other agencies in the United Nations system or International NGOs

     

    Skills

    ·       Proven skills in results communication

    ·       Skills in capacity building including development of training materials

    ·       Ability to work with a wide range of stakeholders

     

                 4)    Languages and level required

         Essential:

     

    ·       Expert knowledge of English or French or Portuguese  

         

          Desirable:

    ·       Intermediate knowledge of other UN languages. 

    5)    Location

     

    Multiple, in the WHO African Region; 

     

                 6)