Introducing COVID-19 vaccination: Guidance for determining priority groups and microplanning. Version 1, 18 January 2021

Abstract

Almost a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists throughout the world have swiftly moved to develop safe and effective vaccines that will help reduce illness, hospitalizations, and deaths associated with COVID-19. These vaccines are expected to make a significant contribution to equitable protection and promotion of human well-being and a gradual return to social, economic, work, and family life. This manual is designed to assist the countries of the Region of the Americas in planning the operational components of the immunization program to ready them for the COVID-19 vaccine. To accomplish this, it follows the principles and values recommended by SAGE and the TAG, as well as the technical recommendations of PAHO and WHO. The aim of these recommendations is to plan for the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines at the operational level and country prioritization of population groups. The recommendations are preliminary and will be updated as new evidence becomes available.