TEHRAN – More than 80 health authorities and senior management from across Iran gathered in Hamadan to strengthen vaccination services and improve vaccine coverage across the country for a three-day trainer (TOT) workshop.
The event was organised by Hamadan University of Medical Sciences and in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME), with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI).
The workshop brought together vaccinators from 32 medical science universities. Participants hone their skills in areas such as vaccine scheduling, cold chain management, and post-vaccination adverse events monitoring, such as risk communication to effectively address public health concerns.
Seyyed Mohsen Zahrae, Vaccination (EPI) Manager at the Ministry of Health, Medical and Education, I looked at the history of 50 successful infectious diseases in the Islamic Republic of Iran. He highlighted the key role of the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) in guiding vaccination policies.
The director of Communiabuly Diseases at Omid Zamani, Iran’s WHO country office, highlighted the organization’s commitment to Iran’s health initiatives and emphasized its consistency with the global immunization agenda 2030.
Throughout the session, participants engaged in candid discussions about local challenges they face, including logistical hurdles to reach remote rural communities.
An online assessment survey conducted by WHO at the closing of the workshop revealed participants’ satisfaction with the training organization and content and trainer expertise.
The knowledge and skills gained in the workshop will have a ripple effect as participants conduct training at the state and local levels to strengthen their broader network of healthcare providers.
Strengthening national vaccination programs
Participating in a consulting workshop, national experts and international partners investigated the possibility of promoting national vaccination programs in June.
The two-day workshop to develop Iran’s national vaccination strategy plan was held at the National Institute of Health (NIHR) from June 9th to 10th, 2025.
The consulting workshop provided stakeholders with a platform to review and update national vaccination strategies, identify challenges and discuss ways to improve vaccine coverage across the country, the Who website announced in a press release on June 30th.
Participants included representatives from the Ministry of Health and Education, the University of Medical Sciences, the Iranian Food and Drug Organization, the Pasteur Iran Institute, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the WHO.
Zamani shared insights derived from successful global vaccination experiences, aligned with the goals of the Immunization Agenda 2030 and highlighted the importance of adapting international best practices to the Iranian context and local health infrastructure.
Focusing on national ownership and local adaptation will help ensure that the resulting strategic plan is evidence-based, practical, sustainable and can be implemented effectively within the country.
The workshop was also heard from leaders across the country, including the head of the NIHR, head of Ali Akbari Sari, who emphasized the role of scientific support for the institute, and Zahraei, who repeatedly reiterated the need for operational planning to meet local conditions.
Participants engaged in special group discussions to delve into goals, implementation strategies, and key metrics. The results of these joint sessions form the basis for the final version of the National Vaccination Strategic Plan. Once confirmed, the plan will be submitted to the relevant authorities for approval.
Another focus of the workshop was to establish effective monitoring and assessment mechanisms to track progress and impact.
The WHO participation underscores its commitment to supporting Iran’s Islamic Republic by leveraging its global knowledge of national health priorities. A dedicated partner of the Ministry of Health, Medical and Education, we provide technical guidance and support to strengthen critical health services, including robust and equitable immunization programs that protect our population from preventable diseases of vaccines. The workshop was supported by a grant from Gavi, a vaccine alliance.
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