Arusha- The World Health Organization declared an end to COVID-19 pandemic as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) in May 2023 after the pandemic has been on a downward trend with increasing number of vaccinated populations in the world leading to fewer infections and deaths. But the need to reach everyone everywhere with COVID-19 vaccines persists.

WHO urges countries to integrate COVID-19 vaccination into life course vaccination programmes while continuously working with communities and their leaders to achieve strong, resilient, and inclusive risk communications and community engagement and infodemic management programmes through routine immunization and other primary health care services.

To meet these needs, COVID-19 vaccination integrated with routine immunization is being introduced into other health services across several levels of healthcare delivery in Tanzania.

With funding support from the Canadian government, the World Health Organization is supporting Tanzania with systematic integration of covid 19 vaccination into routine immunization and primary healthcare services.

After a successful integration exercise in Manyara region during the 2023 Africa Vaccination Week, WHO is supported Arusha region to integrate COVID-19 into routine immunization and other PHC services across seven councils.

Speaking at the microplanning session held in Arusha, the Regional Medical Officer, Dr Sylvia Mamkwe underscored the significant role WHO is playing in ensuring the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination in the region. She noted that, the several strategic vaccination campaigns supported by WHO saw a geometric increase in proportion of vaccinated people than hitherto.

“For us, the goal is everyone, everywhere to be vaccinated, ‘said Dr. Mamkwe, “That is why we are embracing this integration of COVID-19 vaccination into our routine health care systems so that as eligible children are receiving routine vaccination, adults also get the Covid-19 vaccines. Thank you WHO for this support”.

In addition, WHO is also supporting Tanzania in developing a national guideline for COVID-19 integration to provide principles for operationalizing the integration of COVID-19 vaccination into routine immunization programmes, Primary Health Care (PHC) and other relevant health services. The guideline will provide key steps on how to operationalize integration of COVID-19 vaccination at national and subnational level, assess readiness, develop a plan, and identify short-term capacities and investment.

The WHO Country Representative, Dr Charles Sagoe-Moses, noted that, Tanzania has done remarkably well in embracing the integration of COVID-19 into its routine immunization and other PHC services.

“The goal is for everyone everywhere to have access to good health and wellbeing. The new phase of COVID-19 vaccination is integration into the primary health care service and routine immunization. I am happy to see Tanzania already integrating this into its health plans and priorities”.

The microplanning workshop in Arusha region gathered over 50 representatives from the various districts/councils.