Consultant – Study on COVID-19 vaccination of high-risk groups (Pregnant women, PLWHA) Open to Nationals of Guyana only

The main objective of this consultation is to support an implementation research study on the feasibility, acceptability, performance and sustainability of COVID-19 vaccination in pregnant women as part of routine ANCs in Guyana.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, vaccination

 

How can you make a difference? 

The main objective of this consultation is to support an implementation research study on the feasibility, acceptability, performance and sustainability of COVID-19 vaccination in pregnant women as part of routine ANCs in Guyana.

Working under the direct supervision of the Section Chief and in close collaboration with the Immunization Specialist at HQ, the Consultant will perform the following activities:

1) Support the team of consultant/researchers recruited by the UNICEF CO in the development and finalization of the research protocol on the vaccination of pregnant women and people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA)
2) Organize briefing and debriefing meetings between researchers, the MoH and the UNICEF team
3) Support the fieldwork, and coordination of data collection with MoH sites; facilitate planning, data collectors training and organization of qualitative interviews; support access to routine data
3) Ensure quality control of the documents produced by the researchers before their validation
4) Track the progress status of the deliverables
5) Contribute to reports and peer reviewed publication
6) Write a progress report at the end of each month and the final report of the consultation

Scope of Work:

The ‘base-case’ scenario of WHO’s November 2023 Roadmap for COVID-19 vaccines is that the virus continues to evolve but does not become more virulent. Periodic spikes in transmission may occur as a result of an increasing proportion of susceptible individuals over time if waning immunity is significant; this may require periodic boosting at least for high-priority populations (1). The Roadmap recommends that high-risk groups receive COVID-19 vaccine annually. High risk groups are older adults with co-morbidities that put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19; adults, adolescents, and children older than 6 months with moderate to severe immunocompromising conditions; pregnant women, and health care workers. While COVID-19 vaccine was primarily delivered through mass vaccination during the pandemic, the recommended and more sustainable approach is now to integrate COVID-19 vaccine delivery with routine health services. Hence, in line with the WHO Roadmap, the COVID-19 vaccination programme should transition to prioritize high-risk groups.

Following WHO and UNICEF guidance (2), countries have started integrating COVID-19 vaccines into routine immunization services and the broader health system. Some countries have already taken steps to integrate COVID-19 vaccine into care pathways of high-risk groups, such as pregnant women and people living with HIV/AIDS. However, so far there is little evidence on opportunities and constraints for integrating COVID-19 vaccination into the clinical services that serve these populations.
The primary purpose of this study is to assess the acceptability, feasibility, uptake, costs, and sustainability of integrating COVID-19 vaccination into routine care of two vulnerable groups – pregnant women and people living with HIV/AIDS
(PLWHA) in Guyana. The secondary objective will explore key informants’ reflections on the pandemic COVID-19 vaccine rollout and lessons learned that could be applied in a future pandemic scenario. This aspect of the study will only be conducted in Guyana and not in the other three countries.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Clinical, Public Health
• Clinical experience in Primary Care
• Good organizational skills
• Good communication skills
• Strong experience in the Guyana health care systems and the vaccination programme
• Research experience
• Experience with COVID-19 vaccination is desirable

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

Please access the complete ToR here:  TOR Covid-19 Vaccination Integration national consultant.pdf

  

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

  

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check. 

 

Remarks:  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.