IIHMR Univ, John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health conduct online course on COVID-19 vaccine economics 

Of 400 applicants, around 230 participants, mostly immunisation managers from developing countries are currently attending the courses

To address questions on challenges related to maintaining routine vaccine coverage and plan the rapid deployment of a coming COVID-19 vaccine, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, US and IIHMR University, Jaipur have designed two new online courses for vaccine policy makers and programme managers. The online programme began on October 17 and will continue till December 13, 2020.

The online programmes are aimed at educating policymakers and programme managers on using the tools of economics to optimise vaccine coverage during the challenges of COVID-19.

The online programme reportedly received 400 applications out of which 230 participants from the field of immunisation and vaccine delivery have been shortlisted to attend the programme. The participants are from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Somalia.

From India, 53 participants have been selected to attend the programme, out of 64 who expressed interest.

Most of the participants are at positions like Director, Deputy Director, Consultant, Technical Advisor, Medical officer, Project coordinator, Programme manager, and officer working in the field of immunisation and vaccine delivery. The participants are working in organisations like the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, State ministries, WHO, UNDP, UNICEF, Tata Trusts, Clinton Health Access Initiative and IIT Kharagpur.