OtherDutiesasRequiredEfficientUseofHumanResources.pdfVIP

1 Other Duties as Required: Efficient Use of Human Resources Vaccine Supply Chains: Reaching the Final 20 Policy Paper Series May 2014 2900 Eastlake Ave. E. Suite 230 Seattle, WA 98102 USA Policy Series Overview We are mid-way through the Decade of Vaccines, marking a period of significant activity to prevent millions of deaths through a more equitable access to vaccines. Today, more than 80% of children around the world receive a complete routine of life-saving vaccines during their first year of life. The Decade of Vaccines was established to bring attention to the importance of reaching that final 20% of children without access to these life-saving vaccines. This decade is bearing witness to many exciting 2 efforts to strengthen routine immunization, accelerate control of vaccine-preventable diseases, and introduce new and improved vaccines. To a large extent, the evaluation of this decade’s success will be based on the degree to which vaccines reach the people who need them. A strong end-to-end supply chain should adapt to the resource constraints of these communities to ensure that delivery is complete: from the point of production of the vaccine at the manufacturing unit to the point of immunization. This policy series considers the different components of the supply chain, addresses the challenges faced at the last mile for distribution, and presents examples of innovative approaches to address those challenges. This second paper in the series focuses on the role of human resources and the specific challenges f