WHO Launches E.Y.E. Strategy to Eliminate Yellow Fever by 2026

The Eliminating Yellow fever Epidemics (EYE) strategy is a global and comprehensive long term (2017-2026) strategy targeting the most vulnerable countries, while addressing global risk by building resilience in urban centres, and preparedness in areas with potential for outbreaks and ensuring reliable vaccine supply by forming a global coalition of partners to predict needs and shape vaccine production. The strategy consists of three strategic objectives built on lessons learned and is supported by five cross-cutting competencies to ensure its roll-out and success.
The Primary Healthcare Development Agency has confirmed that there are currently more than 1000 suspected cases of yellow fever in Nigeria. It also said it is working round the clock with other agencies to stop the spread of the disease.

Correspondent, Kemi Balogun reports that in response to repeated yellow fever outbreaks around the world, the World Health Organization launched the Eliminate Yellow Fever Epidemics (EYE) strategy in April this year.
The strategy aims to achieve yellow fever elimination in phases by the year 2026. This has prompted efforts by the Nigerian government to run a mass vaccination campaign to reduce the yellow fever transmission, aimed to achieving a 90 percent coverage and implementation in states and local government Areas, in line with the EYE strategy.
The press conference in Abuja was to update the public on the ongoing yellow fever vaccination exercise in parts of the country especially after the most recent case was found in Edo state.
More than 23 million doses of the yellow fever vaccines were supplied for routine immunization programs in Africa from January to August this year.

Yellow Fever vaccines are currently manufactured by four WHO-prequalified suppliers. Since 2001, annual yellow fever vaccine production has quadrupled from 20 million to 80 million doses. Output is estimated to increase even further in the coming years. Through the EYE partnership, 1,4 billion yellow fever vaccine doses are expected to be delivered to countries with high yellow fever risk by 2026.

Despite efforts to increase yellow fever vaccine production, there is still a risk that supply will fail to meet demand in Africa if demand reaches the highest projected levels, according to a Gavi study1. In seeking to address this eventuality, the EYE Partnership works closely with manufacturers and yellow fever at-risk countries to plan and ensure vaccines are available in the locations and volume required.

Expanded needs for yellow fever vaccine are a result of a resurgence of yellow fever epidemics in Africa and more recently in Latin America. These resurgences are due to a combination of changing epidemiology and other risk factors including population movement and climate change. These needs are being addressed through routine immunization, preventive mass campaigns, catch-up campaigns (where vaccine coverage is low) and outbreak response (when vaccines need to be supplied rapidly to avoid further spread of the disease).

The International Coordination Group (ICG) coordinates the timely and equitable provision of vaccines during outbreaks. It maintains an emergency stockpile of 6 million doses of yellow fever vaccine funded by Gavi, which is continually replenished.
WHO, UNICEF, Gavi and all EYE partners are committed to ensuring that every person at-risk of yellow fever is protected. Through combined effort, we are confident that yellow fever epidemics can be eliminated by 2026, and that vaccine supplies can be managed to adequately meet demand.

November 27, 2018