Thirty-sixth Meeting Managers of the Caribbean Expanded Program on Immunization: Final Report. 6-8 December 2022, St. John, Antigua

Abstract

The Thirty-sixth Meeting of Managers of the Caribbean Expanded Program on Immunization was held from 6-8 December 2022 in St. John, Antigua. The meeting convened 70 participants from 22 countries and territories of the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean. Participants included representatives from the Ministries of Health, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO). Mrs. Lisa Bayley, Communications Specialist, PAHO, moderated the opening ceremony for Health Promotion. During the ceremony, Dr. Daniel Salas, Unit Chief of the Comprehensive Family Immunization Unit, PAHO, welcomed all participants and reminded them that the Region of the Americas has been facing a backslide in vaccination coverage in the last decade with the Region currently positioned in second to last place in the world. He asked that the Region find solutions to reinvigorate immunization as a public good for universal health. The overall objective was to analyze achievements for 2021, review the challenges of 2021 and 2022 in the context of reversing the gains lost during the last two years, and plan activities for 2023 while sharing experiences on the immunization program.