WHO holds workshop on new vaccine introduction in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

The WHO held a three-day regional workshop on new vaccine introduction prioritization and sequencing, in Cairo, Egypt, from 31 August to 2 September 2025. The workshop brought together representatives from 14 countries of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region to strengthen national capacity for making proactive, evidence-informed decisions on the timing, sequencing and optimization of new vaccine introductions.

The workshop was opened by Dr Benedetta Allegranzi, Director of the Department of Communicable Diseases at the Regional Office, who called for stronger collaboration across countries and partners, stressing that "working together is key to ensuring that every child and every person in the Region benefits from the life-saving power of vaccines."

Over the three days, participants took part in technical presentations, poster walks, panel discussions and group exercises designed to enhance national decision-making on new vaccine introduction. The first day set the scene with an overview of regional immunization goals and priorities and provided updates from the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on immunization, including guidance on priority diseases and recommended vaccines for the Region.

Participants also engaged in a poster walk to share experiences from their countries and joined a panel discussion with partners on how immunization programmes are adapting to current global and regional health challenges.

The second day introduced the New Vaccine Introduction Prioritization and Sequencing Tool, with participants working in groups to apply its different phases - from defining criteria to collecting data and ranking vaccines - supported by examples of country experience.

The final day highlighted vaccine optimization practices and featured case studies from the Region and beyond, before concluding with the development of draft national action plans and discussions on next steps to support implementation at country level.

The recommendations and draft action plans developed during the workshop will serve as a foundation for participating countries to conduct their own vaccine prioritization and optimization exercises in the coming months. These country-led efforts will inform the development or revision of national immunization strategies, ensuring that new vaccines are introduced in ways that are timely, sustainable and adapted to national health priorities. The event also provided an opportunity for participants to expand their professional networks, exchange experiences and gain new perspectives from peers across the Region. The workshop outcomes will strengthen immunization systems across the Region and contribute to global efforts to expand equitable access to life-saving vaccines. This will be achieved by reinforcing the role of National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs), enhancing collaboration with ministries of health and partners, and promoting cross-country learning.

The success of the workshop was made possible through the contributions and support of WHO headquarters and partner organizations, including Development Catalyst, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, John Snow, Inc., the NITAG Support Hub, the Task Force for Global Health, and UNICEF.