Bringing together healthcare officials, policymakers, financial experts, and PAHO representatives, in a two-day workshop to discuss the costs of Expanded Programmes on Immunization (EPI) was the primary goal of the Ministry of Health on February 12 and 13.

This initiative represents a crucial step in empowering healthcare staff with a deeper understanding of the financial frameworks that sustain immunization programmes.

National Immunization Manager, Nurse Bernadette Regis, emphasized the importance of the initiative in securing funding and resources to protect Saint Lucians from vaccine-preventable diseases.

“The main goal is to carefully analyze how we can extend our immunization program over the next five years in a sustainable way. We are not just planning but calculating the cost of expanding our immunization coverage. This is the first time we are conducting such a comprehensive exercise, which will position us to secure the necessary funding to strengthen our national health system.”  

According to Nurse Regis, the next step is to conduct detailed cost assessments to guide decision making. “The next step is a thorough costing exercise to ensure we make informed decisions on which expansions to prioritize. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that every Saint Lucian has access to life-saving vaccines and that our immunization program remains strong and sustainable,” Nurse Regis stated.

PAHO Workshop Consultant, Dr. Elizabeth Ferdinand, highlighted the importance of this preliminary stage in identifying key priorities, assessing challenges, and determining the most feasible strategies for implementation.

“This is just the beginning. We are identifying critical vaccines, strategies, and priorities for introduction over the next five years. We must assess the challenges, rank priorities, and guide the government on what is feasible within financial and human resource constraints,” explained  Dr. Ferdinand.

Through its collaboration with PAHO, the Ministry of Health remains committed to strengthening health security and accessibility, ensuring immunization remains a cornerstone of public health efforts in Saint Lucia.