Vaccine Safety and Research Officer

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Description

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The Immunization Preventable Disease Programme of WHO Nepal (WHO-IPD) has been providing continuous technical assistance to the Government of Nepal (GON) mainly in areas of vaccine preventable disease (VPD) surveillance and immunization, for over past 25 years. In addition, WHO-IPD has also supported the government in various emergency responses including the 2015 earthquake and COVID-19 surveillance and response. WHO-IPD operates through a nationwide network of 15 surveillance medical officers working through 10 field offices managed by a central coordinating office. 

WHO-IPD has provides technical assistance in informing immunization policy through operational research and has provided pivotal support to the National Immunization Programme (NIP) of Nepal in achieving polio free status and sustain neonatal tetanus elimination and in controlling measles, rubella, diphtheria, hepatitis-B, Rota virus, Japanese encephalitis and other VPDs. WHO-IPD provides technical support for routine immunization, new vaccine introduction, surveillance for priority vaccine preventable diseases such as polio, MR, NNT, JE and sentinel surveillance such as rotavirus and IBD. Who-IPD also provides technical support for different expert committees of the National Immunization Program such as National Immunization Advisory Committee (NIAC), National Adverse Event Following Immunization Investigation Committee (AEFI-IC), Inter-agency Coordination Committee (ICC), National Verification Committee for Measles and Rubella Elimination (NVCRME), National Certification Committee for Polio Eradication (NCCPE) etc.  WHO-IPD has provided continuous technical support in vaccine safety and Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) surveillance throughout the country at national and sub-national level. The technical support for vaccine safety and AEFI surveillance will be extended to MR campaign and HPV vaccine introduction in 2024 while continuing for RI and COVID-19 vaccination. 

The Vaccine Safety and Research Officer will provide technical assistance for routine immunization, COVID-19 Vaccination, and other vaccination campaigns (MR and HPV) vaccine safety and AEFI surveillance. 

Description of Duties:

Under the overall guidance of WHO Representative to Nepal, Medical Officer and Team Lead IPD, direct supervision of the Immunization Cluster Lead and in close coordination with New Vaccines Officer and all clusters of WHO-IPD, the Vaccine Safety and Research Officer performs following functions:

• In close coordination with Family Welfare Division (FWD) and National AEFI Investigation Committee, provide technical support in AEFI surveillance at national and sub-national levels.
• In close coordination with Provincial AEFI Investigation team and Surveillance Medical Officer, ensure all the AEFI cases are timely reported and investigated, and technical reports are submitted
• Provide technical support to the National AEFI Investigation Committee of the National Immunization Program in conducting causality assessments of all reported serious AEFI cases.
• Provide technical assistance to Family Welfare Division for causality assessment final report preparation and feedback to concerned provinces and districts.
• Coordinate with Family Welfare Division and Department of Drug Administration (DDA) for reporting of serious AEFI case in Global AEFI surveillance database
• Provide technical support in updating and finalization of AEFI guideline and relevant training materials for national and sub-national level training and orientation on vaccine safety and AEFI surveillance.
• Provide technical assistance in training and orientation related to vaccine safety and AEFI at national and sub-national level.
• Provide technical support to strengthen risk communication activities at national and sub-national level and crisis communication during mass campaign.
• Provide technical support in research related to immunization and AEFI surveillance.
• Perform other relevant duties as assigned by the supervisors. This includes duty travel or duty-station reassignment on short notice as per the program requirements.

Qualification:

Education:

Essential:

• First University degree in Medicine (MBBS) or equivalent education from an institution recognized by Nepal Medical Council with valid registration in the Nepal Medical Council

Experience:

Essential:

• At least two years’ experience in public health or related works; or at least one year experience in health sector/clinical medicine and one year experience in public health.

Functional Knowledge and Skills:

• Good interpersonal skills, able to work as a team member in a multi-cultural environment
• Ability to travel within the country and to perform practical hands-on field work.
• Ability to participate actively and cooperatively in knowledge sharing and policy forums at various
• levels and to coordinate with the GoN agencies.
• Good knowledge in vaccine, immunization, and surveillance sector. 
• Good analytical skills including ability to collect and analyse technical and clinical data and to draw and present technical conclusions in written and spoken form.
• Very good writing skills in English, including ability to write clear and concise progress reports, analytical reports, plans and proposals.
• Good clinical medicine, diseases, adverse event knowledge for application in vaccine safety and AEFI surveillance. 

Other Skills (eg IT):

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office: word processors, spreadsheets and other data processing, presentation programmes, Outlook and Internet and email is essential.
• Proficiency in Statistical / Epidemiological Analysis software desired.
• Able to follow instruction and work independently would be an asset.

Language Skills:
Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English and Nepali

Source: https://careers.who.int/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=2309152

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