Training activities

2009

• “SAVIC-Gauteng 2009 EPI symposium” – Introduction of new vaccines into national immunisation programmes
  Johannesburg, South Africa, 2-3 February 2009

“SAVIC-Gauteng 2009 EPI symposium” – Introduction of new vaccines into national immunisation programmes
Johannesburg, South Africa, 2-3 February 2009

The SAVIC-Gauteng 2009 EPI symposium was organised by SAVIC/University of Limpopo and Gauteng Province Department of Health, in partnership with the South African national Department of Health, WHO/AFRO, NESI/UA and the University of Pretoria. The symposium was approved for accreditation.
The official opening address was given by Dr. Stella Anyangwe from WHO country office. The opening function was also attended by the Representative of the Flemish Government in South Africa.

The symposium was attended by 103 participants from:

• WHO, South African National Department of Health, and Provincial Departments of Health: Mpumalanga, North West, Gauteng, Western Cape and Limpopo Provinces.
• DENOSA (Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa)
• Academia: Tshwane University of Technology, University of Johannesburg, University of Pretoria, University of Witwatersrand, University of Limpopo, National Institute for Communicable Diseases and NESI/University of Antwerpen.
• The vaccine industry: Biovac Institute, GSK, MSD, Sanofi Pasteur and Wyeth SA.

The objective of the meeting was to discuss the introduction of new vaccines into national immunisation programmes, as South Africa recently took the decision to introduce pneumococcal and rotavirus vaccines and a combination vaccine (pentavalent) including IPV.
NESI provided technical and financial support for the symposium. Prof. Meheus gave a presentation on ‘New vaccine introduction and programmatic implications’. Dr. Dochez presented on ‘HPV vaccines’. The new EPI schedule for South Africa was presented by the EPI manager, Dr. Johan Van Den Heever, and will become operational in April 2009. The national advisory group of experts also supports introduction of HPV vaccine but the policy decision has not yet been taken.

Introduction of new vaccines
 PDF : 1.2 M

HPV vaccines
 PDF : 1.8 M