Accelerated Vaccine Introduction initiative

The Accelerated Vaccine Introduction initiative (AVI) was launched by GAVI in January 2009 to achieve two core goals:

• broaden and speed-up access to rotavirus and pneumococcal vaccines;
• create a platform for introducing other new vaccines, such as meningococcal type A, HPV, typhoid, Japanese encephalitis and rubella.

Building on experience gained in past decades when efforts to increase immunisation rates in low-income countries were often fragmented, the AVI partnership unites scientific, public health, policy and management expertise in enabling national governments to address all aspects of successful immunisation from vaccine procurement to policy, finance, training, logistics and delivery.

From reinforcing country ownership to helping put vaccines on the agenda worldwide, AVI demonstrates the "value-added" of GAVI's public-private sector business model.

1. Empowering countries

A key part of the AVI strategy is to facilitate informed country decision- and policy-making.

AVI collects and communicates the evidence-base and GAVI policy information needed to support decisions regarding vaccine introduction. It assesses the readiness of countries to introduce vaccines, establishes global and regional support, and assists countries in the preparation of applications to GAVI.

The need for information is not confined to developing country governments making the decision to introduce new vaccines. Successful immunisation strategies require support from diverse stakeholders, including the global donor community. AVI provides communications and advocacy resources to raise awareness and understanding about the value and importance of immunisation and new vaccines.

2. Securing predictable financing

AVI recognises that GAVI needs access to predictable funding in order to introduce pneumococcal and rotavirus vaccines. The GAVI Secretariat engages with donors to attract long term financing and AVI supports the Secretariat's fund raising initiatives by providing hard data on the burden of disease that countries face and the impact of vaccines.

Gathering data on country demand and the corresponding vaccine requirements, AVI provides important information for the development of GAVI Alliance financial projections and fund-raising strategies.

3. Balancing supply and demand

To ensure that the supply of vaccines is in sufficient quantity to meet demand, the initiative generates strategic forecasts of demand of all GAVI-eligible countries.

AVI monitors the capacity of existing vaccine manufacturers and potential new manufacturers, managing implications for stock allocation, supply agreements and vaccine shipment.

AVI also facilitates the introduction of vaccines by working with countries to ensure their health system is able to deliver vaccines to where they are needed. For each recipient country, AVI partners analyse the cold chain capacity, programme management capabilities and the availability of health workers to deliver vaccines at the local level.

4. Future prioritised vaccines

Through its work, AVI is building a robust platform for the efficient introduction of other new vaccines as they become available.

Vaccines for meningococcal group A, human papillomavirus (HPV), Japanese encephalitis, rubella and typhoid are expected to become available for GAVI support in the near future and the focus on strengthening health systems will facilitate faster delivery, broader access and a greater impact in saving children's lives.

AVI management structure and sub-teams

* AVI TAC = A technical assistance consortium of PATH, Johns Hopkins University (JHU), US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and others.