The 39th Meeting of Caribbean Immunization Managers hosted by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in Trinidad and Tobago concluded last week with the British Virgin Islands, Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago celebrated for their achievements in surveillance and immunization coverage.
Grenada was awarded for best surveillance, followed by Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados. The Henry Smith Award for Immunization was copped by the British Virgin Islands for their impressive coverage rates. Meanwhile, Trinidad and Tobago took the coveted Beryl Irons Immunization Award for notable achievements in immunization.
Chair of the meeting and the Caribbean Immunisation Technical Advisory Group, Professor Peter Figueroa congratulated the managers for their sterling efforts but warned the Caribbean that it must sustain vaccination gains due to the “resurgence of measles cases, with multiple measles outbreaks in the Americas, over 11,000 cases and 25 deaths, and very sadly, 19 of them in indigenous people, showing that they’re more at risk.” He also cautioned about ongoing circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus in Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean and Europe. “We cannot be complacent. We have to sustain our gains,” Prof. Figueroa cautioned.
Assistant Director of PAHO, Dr. Rhonda Sealey-Thomas, also commended the managers for their hard work, acknowledging Belize for their management of measles cases, Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines for their recent vaccine introductions, and Dominica and Trinidad and Tobago for completing EPI self-assessments.
“You are the custodians of one of the most powerful public health interventions in history. Your efforts have kept the flame of immunization alive in every corner of our Region—from remote rural communities to densely populated urban centers. You have sustained immunization as a pillar of primary health care and as a human right. The statistics we celebrate today are more than numbers – they represent healthy children, thriving communities, a stronger Caribbean and in this context, the tireless work that you as EPI Managers do,” Dr Sealey-Thomas stated.
Echoing these sentiments was The Honorable Dr Lackram Bodoe, Minister of Health, Trinidad and Tobago. He commended his team as well as regional and international partners for providing technical assistance, training, and resources that have strengthened the country’s immunization infrastructure and disease surveillance systems. In addition, Dr Bodoe noted that the country had already begun its influenza vaccination drive.
“We continue to emphasize the importance of immunization, particularly for vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, individuals with chronic illness, and pregnant women. Protecting these groups remains a top priority as we work to reduce the burden of seasonal influenza and prevent complications,” the Minister outlined.
Dr. Gabriel Vivas Francesconi, PAHO/WHO Representative for Trinidad and Tobago and the Dutch Islands commended Trinidad and Tobago for its progress and assured of PAHO’s support in increasing HPV immunization coverage among adolescents – which remains low at 16%, underscoring the need for targeted interventions. “To address this, PAHO has supported the Ministry of Health in launching an evidence-based HPV communication campaign, including the training of 79 school nurses and regional immunization staff in effective vaccine communication. Next year, in collaboration with the MOH and the UWI, we will conduct focus groups to further refine messaging and outreach strategies, ensuring that our efforts resonate with communities and drive uptake,” he revealed.
During the two-day meeting the managers analysed achievements for 2024, reviewed the challenges of 2024-2025, discussed the rollout of new vaccines and planned for 2026 while sharing country experiences on the immunization program.
