Castries, February 13, 2025 – The Ministry of Health has taken a decisive step toward bolstering Saint Lucia’s immunization program with a two-day workshop dedicated to the financial sustainability of vaccine coverage. Held on February 12 and 13, the workshop brought together key stakeholders, including healthcare officials, policymakers, financial experts, and representatives from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), to examine the costing of Expanded Programmes on Immunization (EPI).
National Immunization Manager, Nurse Bernadette Regis, underscored the significance of the initiative, describing it as a landmark effort in ensuring the long-term sustainability of immunization programs in the country. “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,” she explained.
As part of the workshop’s outcomes, Nurse Regis highlighted the importance of conducting a detailed costing exercise to inform future 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,” she stated.
PAHO Workshop Consultant, Dr. Elizabeth Ferdinand, emphasized that this initiative represents the beginning of a crucial planning process. “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,” Dr. Ferdinand explained.
The collaboration between the Ministry of Health and PAHO marks a proactive effort to enhance health security and accessibility, reinforcing immunization as a cornerstone of public health in Saint Lucia. By developing a sustainable financing model, the country aims to safeguard its population against vaccine-preventable diseases while strengthening its national health infrastructure.
