Global Health

Australian Expert Technical Assistance Program for Regional COVID-19 Vaccine Access: Policy, Planning and Implementation (AETAP-PPI)

NCIRS worked closely with the Indo-Pacific Centre for Health Security of the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) on Australian Expert Technical Assistance Program for Regional COVID-19 Vaccine Access: Policy, Planning and Implementation (AETAP-PPI) as part of the Centre’s Vaccine Access and Health Security Initiative (VAHSI). 

This partnership allowed countries in South East Asia and the Indo-Pacific to access technical advice from Australian immunisation experts to support planning, implementation and monitoring of COVID-19 vaccination rollout programs. 

Examples of support provided in the region

Pharmacovigilance (vaccine safety and adverse event reporting systems) Immunisation service delivery and coordination 

Remote training session provided for Timor-Leste clinicians by Australian experts, including haematologists, and experts on thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS). 

This training covered:

  • a general overview of vaccine pharmacovigilance
  • epidemiology of TTS and AstraZeneca vaccine
  • clinical diagnosis, investigation and management
  • discussion of the draft protocol for managing suspected TTS patients in Timor-Leste.
     
  • Revised ‘Immunization Safety Surveillance Guidelines’ for the Ministry of Health, Vanuatu.
  • Developed an advisory document for the Ministry of Health, Vanuatu, on potential risk factors for the rare blood-clotting adverse event (TTS) after the AstraZeneca vaccine.
  • Reviewed national adverse event following immunisation (AEFI) guidelines for the Ministry of Health in the Solomon Islands.
  • Reviewed draft national Immunisation Strategy 2021-25 for Papua New Guinea
  • NCIRS deployed a public health physician at the Ministry of Health, Timor-Leste, to provide in-country technical support. Technical advice is provided to support policy decision-making and key immunisation-related bodies, including the National Technical Working and Advisory Groups and National Coordination Committee. The advisor also helps with planning and implementing the national plans for vaccination against COVID-19. 
Surveillance and epidemiologySocial and behavioural insights 
  • Developed a ‘Just in Time Training’ module on AEFI surveillance for the WHO Division of Pacific Technical Support. This four-hour customised training module can be delivered in person or remotely via video conference technology.
  • A short training module on causality assessment for health workers is currently being developed.
  • Assisted to develop the National COVID-19 Communication Strategy for the Solomon Islands
  • Reviewed PNG COVID-19 vaccine communication engagement strategy 
Cold chain and vaccine program planning 
  • Support currently in progress
 


 

Last updated July 2025