TEHRAN – Over 80 health officials and senior managers from across Iran gathered in Hamadan for a 3-day training of trainers (ToT) workshop to enhance immunization service delivery and improve vaccine coverage across the country.

Organized by the Hamadan University of Medical Sciences in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MoHME), with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi), the event was held from July 26 to 28, the WHO website announced in a press release on August 27.

The workshop brought together immunization officers from 32 universities of medical sciences. Participants honed their skills in areas such as vaccine scheduling, cold chain management, and monitoring adverse events following immunization, and also in risk communication to effectively address public health concerns.

The  Essential Program on Immunization (EPI) Manager at the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Seyyed Mohsen Zahrae,i noted the Islamic Republic of Iran’s successful, 50-year history of battling infectious diseases, including the country’s eradication of polio and elimination of measles. He underscored the vital role of the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) in guiding immunization policies.

Head of the Communicable Diseases Department at the WHO Country Office in Iran, Omid Zamani, underlined the Organization’s commitment to Iran’s health initiatives, highlighting their alignment with the global Immunization Agenda 2030.

Throughout the sessions, participants engaged in candid discussions about the local challenges they face, such as logistical hurdles in reaching remote, rural communities.

An online evaluation survey conducted by WHO at the workshop’s close revealed high participant satisfaction with the organization and content of the training and the expertise of the trainers.

The knowledge and skills gained during the workshop will have a ripple effect as participants go on to conduct training at the provincial and local level to empower a broader network of health care providers.

Strengthening national immunization program

Participating in a consultative workshop, national experts and international partners explored the potential to promote the country’s immunization programs in June.

The two-day workshop to develop Iran’s National Immunization Strategic Plan was held from 9–10 June 2025 at the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).

The consultative workshop provided stakeholders with a platform to review and update national immunization strategies, identify challenges, and discuss ways to improve vaccine coverage across the country, the WHO website announced in a press release on June 30.

Participants included representatives from the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, universities of medical sciences, the Iran Food and Drug Organization, the Pasteur Institute of Iran, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the  WHO.

 Zamani shared insights drawn from successful global immunization experiences and emphasized the importance of aligning with Immunization Agenda 2030 targets and adapting international best practices to the Iranian context and local health infrastructure.

Focusing on country ownership and local adaptation helps ensure that the resulting strategic plan is evidence-based, practical, and sustainable, and can be effectively implemented within the country.

The workshop also heard from national leaders, including the head of the NIHR, Ali Akbari Sari, who highlighted the Institute’s scientific support role, and Zahraei, who reiterated the need for operational plans to be tailored to local conditions.

Participants engaged in specialized group discussions, delving into goals, implementation strategies, and key assessment indicators. The outcomes of these collaborative sessions will form the foundation for the final version of the National Immunization Strategic Plan. Once finalized, the plan will be submitted to the relevant authorities for approval.

Another focus of the workshop was to establish effective monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track progress and impact.

WHO’s participation underscores its commitment to supporting the Islamic Republic of Iran by leveraging global knowledge for national health priorities. WHO is a committed partner to the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, providing technical guidance and support to strengthen essential health services, including robust and equitable immunization programmes that protect the population from vaccine-preventable diseases. The workshop was supported by a grant from GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance.

MT/MG