Comprehensive Vaccine-Preventable Disease Surveillance in the Western Pacific Region: A Literature Review on Integration of Surveillance Functions, 2000–2021

Abstract

We document factors that influenced integrating surveillance functions for vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) and other communicable diseases in the Western Pacific Region (WPR).n Barriers included insufficient coordination within the public and private sectors, inadequate engagement of national Expanded Program on Immunization programs, lack of surveillance and laboratory capacity, inability to link epidemiologic and laboratory data, and suboptimal scope and design of surveillance systems for achieving control and elimination goals.n Best practices and innovations included developing guidelines for integrated VPD surveillance, standardizing processes for laboratory surveillance and testing of multiple VPDs, using multiplex testing for multiple diseases, and conducting joint epidemiology and laboratory surveillance data review meetings.

Software Tools to Facilitate Community-Based Surveillance: A Scoping Review

“…This will facilitate coordinated public health surveillance in both emergencies and community health programs and prevent parallel digital systems. 54 Interview participants highlighted this as an important factor. To achieve this aim, numerous ministries of health in the Global South have initiated national digital health strategies and governance procedures.…”