Event highlights
The WHO Country Office in Turkmenistan, together with the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan (MoHMIT), held a national meeting focused on strengthening policies for seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccination.
The objectives of the meeting were to present the approved national policy on seasonal influenza vaccination in Turkmenistan, share the results of the WHO FAIR assessment and maturity matrix for evaluating country readiness, and discuss the development of a national deployment and vaccination plan for pandemic influenza.
Turkmenistan was the first country in the WHO European Region and the third country globally to conduct the FAIR assessment. The assessment facilitated the rapid development of the national policy on seasonal influenza vaccination in the country.
Participants also discussed progress in implementing the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework and shared experiences related to planning COVID-19 vaccine deployment. WHO/Europe experts participated virtually and provided technical guidance based on international best practices for pandemic vaccine implementation.
The meeting additionally featured working groups to identify priority measures for strengthening systems for seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccination, as well as improving coordination between national and international partners.
The event, held at United Nations House in Ashgabat, brought together 25 participants, including representatives from the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Service and the Treatment and Prevention Department of the MoHMIT; the Public Health and Nutrition Center; the Preventive Center on Particularly Dangerous Infections; the Myrat Garryyev State Medical University of Turkmenistan; sanitary and epidemiological services and health departments of Ashgabat and Arkadag cities, as well as Ahal, Balkan, Dashoguz, Lebap and Mary provinces; the WHO Country Office in Turkmenistan; and other national partners.
This initiative reflects Turkmenistan’s commitment to global health security and pandemic preparedness. By implementing WHO-recommended tools and approaches, the country aims to strengthen influenza surveillance and response capacities, ensure timely access to vaccines for vulnerable populations, and align national strategies with international pandemic preparedness standards.