Strengthening vaccine safety in Malawi

Dr. Lillian Chunda, Chief of Health Services-Technical in the Ministry of Health, officiated a highly impactful dissemination meeting at Chiko Hotel Mponela, Lilongwe from 16 – 19 September 2014, to highlight the progress of the Vaccine Safety Strengthening Initiative, supported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Global Immunization Safety Team (GIST). The event brought together over 70 participants, including public health experts, healthcare workers, and key stakeholders, to discuss the success of vaccine safety initiatives in Malawi.

The initiatives, which have been implemented for last 4 years in partnership with the Malawi Ministry of Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS), and the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), focus on improving vaccine safety surveillance and strengthening immunization systems across the country. The meeting provided a platform for participants to share experiences, assess the impact of these projects, and explore future directions for vaccine safety in Malawi.

Enhancing Vaccine Safety and Surveillance

Dr. Lillian Chunda praised the success of the CDC-GIST supported initiative, emphasizing its crucial role in boosting vaccine safety monitoring and reducing adverse event risks. “A few years ago, awareness of adverse events following immunization (AEFI) was limited. Thanks to the efforts of the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) Unit within the Ministry of Health, we’ve made significant progress in building immunization surveillance capacity,” Dr. Chunda noted during her address.

The vaccine safety strategies introduced through this initiative have improved the ability of healthcare workers to actively monitor and respond to adverse events. These tools, initially applied to COVID-19 vaccines, hold potential for adoption in other vaccine introductions, particularly in low-resource settings. The collaborative efforts between CDC, GIST, AFENET, and the EPI Unit have played a pivotal role in ensuring the initiative’s success.

Recognizing Global and Local Partnerships

Dr. Jane Gidudu, a Medical Epidemiologist at the CDC’s Immunization Division, commended the remarkable progress made by AFENET and Malawi’s EPI Unit. She highlighted their success in implementing multiple vaccine safety projects that have significantly enhanced immunization efforts in Malawi. “The strategies used in the active monitoring of COVID-19 vaccines could serve as a model for future vaccine introductions, especially in low-resource settings. The achievements of the Malawi EPI Unit are truly commendable,” Dr. Gidudu remarked.

The dissemination meeting also focused on assessing the long-term impact of these projects on immunization programs and vaccine safety. Participants explored how the tools and systems developed through the initiative could be scaled up for broader application in improving health outcomes across Malawi.

Looking Forward: Sustaining Vaccine Safety Efforts

As Malawi continues to strengthen its immunization programs, the CDC-GIST supported Vaccine Safety Strengthening Initiative serves as a foundation for sustainable vaccine safety systems. The collaboration between the Ministry of Health, AFENET, KUHeS, and CDC demonstrates the power of partnerships in achieving lasting public health outcomes.

The meeting ended on a high note, with participants expressing optimism about the future of vaccine safety initiatives in Malawi. With the progress made so far, the country is well-positioned to continue improving its vaccine safety surveillance and building confidence in immunization programs nationwide.