Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is intended to prevent cervical cancer. As part of project Optimize, a two-year HPV vaccine demonstration project is being conducted to demonstrate how existing delivery systems can be adapted to successfully provide HPV vaccine to young adolescent girls. HPV vaccine is a strong candidate for out-of-the-cold-chain use given its characteristics of high heat stability and freeze sensitivity.

Author: Robertson J, Vu H, Le N, et al.

Publication date: July 2010

Region: Global

In July 2010, project Optimize held workshops in Washington, DC, and Seattle, WA, to engage stakeholders from a wide variety of organizations. The workshops discussed developing-country immunization systems and sought participant perspectives on the desired future state of the systems. This document provides a summary of the workshops.

Publication date: July 2010

Region: Global

Both Iran and Sudan utilize an alarm-based temperature recording system to monitor the performance of their national immunization cold stores. To better the utility and application of such systems in other countries, this project Optimize report documents the benefits, challenges, and advantages of both Iran’s and Sudan’s systems.

Author: Haghgou, M

Publication date: May 2010

Region: Global

This report from the vaccine technologies team at PATH presents results from an economic model that calculates the costs involved in delivering IPV vaccine in Indian immunization clinics according to three strategies: (1) intradermal delivery of reduced volumes of vaccine per dose, (2) use of adjuvants to allow a reduced IPV antigen content per dose, and (3) reduction of the number of doses per IPV immunization schedule. The strategies include delivery by standard technique and with alternative delivery devices.

Author: Hickling J, Jones R, Nundi N, Zehrung D

Publication date: April 2010

Region: Global

As part of project Optimize, a five-year human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine demonstration project is under way in Uganda and three other countries to demonstrate how existing health systems can be adapted to successfully provide HPV vaccine to young adolescent girls. HPV vaccine is a strong candidate for storage and transport in a controlled temperature chain at temperatures higher than the standard 2º to 8ºC cold chain storage.

Author: Robertson J, Mugisha E, Kumakech E, LaMontagne D, Janmohamed A, Kristensen D, Seruyange R, Bamwine J, Ssekito G, Newland S

Publication date: April 2010

Region: Global

Project Optimize is collaborating with the Vietnamese National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology on a series of activities designed to assess the opportunities and needs for strengthening the immunization system in Vietnam. This document reports the results of assessments of the vaccine supply chain in Vietnam, completed in March 2010.

Publication date: March 2010

Region: Asia

This issue of Directions in Global Health features PATH’s work to optimize vaccine supply systems, advance development of malaria vaccine candidates, prevent postpartum hemorrhage to save mothers’ lives, address health needs in Tanzania, and use monitoring and evaluation systems to further PATH’s mission. It also highlights two prestigious awards that PATH recently received.

Publication date: December 2009

Region: Global

Part of series: Directions in Global Health

The purpose of this project Optimize survey was to obtain input from stakeholders within the Expanded Programme on Immunization in Vietnam about issues and perceptions related to the storage, distribution, and delivery of the current and potential options for human papillomavirus vaccine presentation and packaging.

Publication date: December 2009

Region: Asia

The Optimize project, a collaboration between PATH and the World Health Organization, commissioned this white paper to examine the issues influencing vaccine producer willingness to advance, adopt, and commercialize value-added technologies for vaccines for low-income and lower-middle-income country markets.

Author: Gilchrist S

Publication date: November 2009

Region: Global

This document provides a brief overview of the Optimize project’s strategy for developing delivery systems that are as advanced and innovative as the vaccines they support. Project Optimize, a collaboration between the World Health Organization and PATH, has been given a unique mandate to think far into the future: to put technological and scientific advances to work, helping define the ideal characteristics and specifications for health products; and to create a vaccine supply chain that is flexible and robust enough to handle an increasingly large and costly portfolio of vaccines.

Publication date: October 2009

Region: Global

This briefing paper underscores the burden of rotavirus and highlights the promise of vaccines to combat the virus as the global health community prepares for worldwide introduction.  

Publication date: September 2009

Region: Global

This article, published in Human Vaccines (Human Vaccines 5:8, 1-7; August 2009), details a collaborative effort between PATH, Arecor, and the University of Colorado Denver School of Pharmacy that has resulted in a new formulation for recombinant hepatitis B vaccine that demonstrates improved stability at elevated temperatures. The formulation exhibited 9-week stability at 55°C and was also shown to be stable at both 37°C and 45°C for at least six months. This new vaccine formulation has the potential to be stored at room temperature for part of its shelf life and will help ensure the potency of the vaccine in areas where the cold chain is insufficient.

Author: Jezek J, Chen D, Watson L, et al.

Publication date: August 2009

Region: Global

Produced by project Optimize and the vaccine technologies team at PATH, this report: (1) summarizes the clinical evidence supporting the intradermal route for vaccine administration and the devices being developed for this purpose; (2) determines whether intradermal delivery broadly holds promise for vaccine applications for low- and middle-income countries in the future; and (3) begins to prioritize vaccine targets and device strategies that best fit the public health needs in these countries and likely merit further investigation. The document is available as one large file or as four smaller files for easier downloading.

Publication date: August 2009

Region: Global

Project Optimize, a collaboration between the World Health Organization and PATH, has been given a unique mandate to think far into the future: to put technological and scientific advances to work, helping define the ideal characteristics and specifications for health products; and to create a vaccine supply chain that is flexible and robust enough to handle an increasingly large and costly portfolio of vaccines. This brochure provides an overview of Optimize's areas of focus and activities.

Publication date: August 2009

Region: Global

This article, published in Expert Reviews (Expert Rev. Vaccines 8(5), 547-557; May 2009), reviews approaches being used to develop thermostable vaccine formulations that are resistant to damage caused by freezing or excessive heat and could reduce dependence on the cold chain. The article discusses the challenges associated with the implementation of these novel formulations as well as the potential benefits of protecting vaccines from damage caused by breaks in the cold chain.

Author: Chen D, Kristensen D

Publication date: May 2009

Region: Global

This edition of PATH Today features our work in women's health and with the Entre Amigos project in Nicaragua and spotlights Margarita Quintanilla, PATH's Nicaragua country program leader. The issue also highlights PATH's breakthrough development of freeze-stable vaccines, an award for PATH vice president Dr. Michael Free, and the McKinstry Co. Charitable Foundation's commitment to health.

Publication date: May 2009

Region: Global

Part of series: PATH Today

This document presents formative research results from PATH's HPV Vaccines: Evidence for Impact project in India. PATH is working with ministries of health and other country partners to develop strategies for introducing vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of cervical cancer.

Publication date: March 2009

Region: Asia

This document presents new research results from PATH's HPV Vaccines: Evidence for Impact project in Peru. PATH is working with ministries of health and other country partners to develop strategies for introducing vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of cervical cancer.

Publication date: March 2009

Region: Latin America

This document presents new research results from PATH's HPV Vaccines: Evidence for Impact project in Uganda. PATH is working with ministries of health and other country partners to develop strategies for introducing vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of cervical cancer.

Publication date: March 2009

Region: Africa

This document presents formative research results from PATH's HPV Vaccines: Evidence for Impact project in Vietnam. PATH is working with ministries of health and other country partners to develop strategies for introducing vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of cervical cancer.

Publication date: March 2009

Region: Asia