SECID

The National Institute of Public Health of Kosovo, as part of the SECID regional network and within the Influenza Project supported by CDC Atlanta, has organized a series of activities to strengthen influenza surveillance and response.

Main activities included:

✔️ Trainings with SARI sentinel sites on timely reporting and data quality for influenza reporting and RSV reporting
✔️ A One Health meeting within the Mosaic Surveillance Framework, bringing together national experts to evaluate surveillance and identify opportunities for improvement.
✔️ Specialized trainings for PCR laboratories on quality control and troubleshooting.
✔️ Collaboration with media representatives to improve science communication during public health crises. This is a joint training at national level to convene key media representatives that cover public health reporting health journalists with epi representative from each district site and communication specialists.
✔️ Joint epidemiological and microbiological surveillance activities. Protocols and guidelines on SARI and ILI thresholds, data validation, and standardization were developed, and trainings were conducted to further enhance data quality and strengthen surveillance.

Through these initiatives, Kosovo is enhancing data quality, strengthening cross-sectoral cooperation, and improving preparedness for public health challenges.

"Regional Meeting on Strengthening Vaccine Deployment & Pandemic Preparedness"
📅 Vienna, July 2, 2025
📌 Organized by SECID, with the support of The Task Force for Global Health and the CDC

On July 2nd, a regional meeting was held in Vienna to address one of the most critical aspects of pandemic preparedness:
ensuring timely, equitable, and coordinated vaccine deployment.

The event gathered representatives from across South Eastern Europe to:
🔹 Reflect on experiences and lessons learned from COVID-19 and past pandemics
🔹 Identify existing gaps in national and regional vaccine deployment plans
🔹 Discuss practical strategies for collaboration across borders
🔹 Explore the integration of vaccine access, regulation, procurement, and logistics into a regional framework

💬 The key message:
Effective pandemic response requires shared responsibility, early planning, and strong regional cooperation.

This meeting laid important groundwork for strengthening health systems, improving coordination, and ensuring that no country in the region is left behind during future health emergencies.

👏 Thank you to all who contributed their insights, experiences, and commitment to a healthier and better-prepared region.

Annual Influenza Meeting of Southeast European Countries
“Mosaic Surveillance and One Health Approach in SEE Countries”
4–5 June 2025 | Swissotel Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina

Public health experts, epidemiologists, and partners from Southeast Europe came together in Sarajevo to discuss the future of influenza and respiratory virus surveillance in the region.

The meeting highlighted the value of the Mosaic Surveillance model, integrating sentinel, syndromic, genomic, and event-based systems and emphasized the importance of cross-sector collaboration through the One Health approach.

Participants shared national experiences, explored the role of genomic surveillance, and discussed preparedness for avian influenza. Sustainability of National Influenza Centers (NICs) and regional coordination were also key themes.

The engagement, expertise, and collaboration shown throughout the meeting mark a strong step forward in strengthening public health security across Southeast Europe.

On May 31, 2025, in Shkodër, a special session on vaccination and chronic disease prevention took place during the Spring 2025 National Conference on Endocrinology & Diabetology.

The session focused on the essential role of vaccination for people with chronic conditions, especially diabetes. Experts shared data, best practices, and discussed the current challenges in Albania.

A strong message came through: we need a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to make vaccination a key part of chronic disease management.

This event was organized by the Albanian Society of Endocrinology and Diabetology Shoqata Shqiptare e Endokrinologjise dhe Diabetologjise , in collaboration with Instituti i Shëndetit Publik - Faqja zyrtare ISHP and supported by SECID.

New Study Highlights Importance of COVID-19 Vaccination

A recent study by WHO/Europe, published in The Lancet Regional Health Europe, underscores the crucial role of COVID-19 vaccinations in preventing severe health outcomes, including death. Conducted across six countries, including Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Serbia 🇦🇱🇽🇰🇲🇰🇷🇸, the study reveals that COVID-19 vaccines have significantly reduced hospitalizations and severe cases.

Dr. Mark Katz, a leading author of the study, emphasized the urgent need for vaccination: “Unfortunately, fewer than 25% of adults hospitalized with COVID-19 received a vaccine in the past year. Getting an up-to-date vaccine remains the best way for high-risk groups to prevent serious illness.”

Among those studied, many were older adults or individuals with chronic conditions—groups at the highest risk for severe illness who would benefit the most from vaccination. Alarmingly, over half of the hospitalized patients had never received a COVID-19 vaccine.

This study highlights the ongoing effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in preventing severe disease and underscores the need for increased vaccine uptake in these countries and the broader region.
As winter approaches, it’s crucial for individuals in high-risk categories to get vaccinated.

To learn more about the findings, click the link below:
Read the full study here: https://www.thelancet.com/.../PIIS2666-7762(24.../fulltext

🗓️On October 18, 2024, epidemiologists from various SARI sentinel sites in Albania, including Vlore, Berat, and Tirana, convened for the Annual Influenza Training Workshop in Tirana. 👩‍💻The workshop covered important topics such as ILI and SARI surveillance, updates to the Infectious Diseases Information System (SISI), and an evaluation of the 2023-2024 season’s surveillance 📈data. Participants also engaged in discussions on 🧬genomic surveillance and targeted sequencing guidelines.
Organized by the Public Health Institute with support from SECID, the event aimed to prepare for the upcoming 2024-2025 influenza season.