Spain
As a public health physician with a PhD in maternal immunization, I have always believed in the transformational power of vaccines—not only to improve health and well-being but also to respond effectively to emerging threats. My experience spans global (Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; WHO), regional (Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean), and country-level work, including in lower-resource settings in Africa. I bring expertise in vaccines, immunization programme implementation, and health system strengthening. I have a proven track record in setting strategic priorities, designing and conducting research, developing evidence-based policies and operational guidance, and supporting implementation at the regional and country levels. I am passionate about working across sectors, managing complex global health projects, and driving impact in dynamic, fast-paced environments.
• Mpox vaccine focal point within WHO’s Immunization, Vaccines, and Biologicals (IVB) Department, and active member of the WHO HQ Incident Management Support Team (IMST) and the Vaccine Pillar of the Africa Continental IMST. Support regional and country-level planning, implementation, monitoring, and learning including a deployment to the WHO Regional Office for Africa (Brazzaville), in close collaboration with partners including Africa CDC, UNICEF, Gavi, US CDC, and CEPI. • Influenza vaccine focal point within WHO IVB Department, leading coordination of the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) technical expert group to update policy recommendations on human zoonotic influenza vaccines. Engage with partners to strengthen country influenza vaccination as part of a life course immunization approach. • Lead the development of global strategic, technical, and operational guidance for mpox and COVID-19 vaccines —among other antigens—with a focus on adult immunization, including the integration into Primary Health Care (PHC) services. • Collaborate with WHO regional and country offices, as well as key partners, to support policy development and implementation aligned with Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030) goals—focusing on health system strengthening for existing and future vaccines, and advancing pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response (PPPR). • Contribute to strategic global initiatives such as “The Future of Immunization”, working with Gavi, UNICEF, and the Gates Foundation to help shape the long-term global immunization vision toward 2050.
• Provide technical assistance for the COVID-19 response activities at the Western Pacific Region in response to regional and country requests. • Conduct evidence reviews and develop briefing notes, talking points, presentations, and other related materials for Member States, WHO Country Offices about SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant, COVID in children and safe school reopening; international travel, testing, and quarantine requirements for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals; SARS-CoV-2 seasonality; planning for “endemic” COVID-19; new variants of concern, and impact on vaccine performance; among others. • Guide the development of materials for social media distribution about COVID-related topics, including COVID-19 vaccination and vaccine effectiveness.
• Held the Secretariat role of the ‘Task Force for COVID-19 Vaccination in the Americas’, which among other functions, monitors the engagement of countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) to the COVAX Facility • Supported countries to plan and prepare for the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines, including the development of guidance for National Deployment and Vaccination Plans • Contributed to the generation of evidence and promote a data-driven approach towards control and elimination of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) in LAC in line with the Regional Plan for Immunizations and Immunization Agenda 2030 • Developed policy documents to inform discussions by relevant regional (e.g. Technical Advisory Group on Vaccine-Preventable Diseases) and subregional immunization-related advisory groups (e.g. Caribbean Immunization Technical Advisory Group) • Contributed to the progress of the hepatitis B component of the Regional Initiative for the Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission (EMTCT+) of HIV, Syphilis, hepatitis B and Chagas. • Provided guidance to countries in the development and implementation of National Plans for pandemic preparedness and for the prevention, control and elimination of vaccine-preventable diseases, including hepatitis A and B, yellow fever, and seasonal influenza • Supported countries in accessing vaccines and other supplies through working in close collaboration with the PAHO’s Revolving Fund in the demand forecast, tender processes, and vaccine allocations to countries and in providing technical guidance to country requests • Wrote manuscripts reporting on the results of a multi-country study on lessons learnt about the implementation of maternal immunization programs in LAC and attitudes of health care providers and pregnant women • Led the development of technical proposals and budgets for external partners and funding agencies, and explore potential new collaborations
• Contributed to strengthening national capacities for the development of influenza surveillance systems and seasonal vaccine programs and to overall pandemic preparedness in the Western Pacific Region • Developed a plan for the implementation of WHO Pandemic Influenza Severity Assessments • In collaboration with the Partnership for Influenza Vaccine Introduction (PIVI), a program of The Task Force for Global Health, planned the implementation of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAPs) surveys related to seasonal influenza vaccine in selected Western Pacific countries • Contributed to the development of WPRO influenza-specific technical communication materials • Developed a proposal for the development of an Implementation Research Agenda on Health Emergency Preparedness and Response in the Western Pacific • In coordination with global and regional partners, provided technical assistance for agenda-setting and preparation of technical materials for the annual Western Pacific and South-East Asia regions National Influenza Centers meeting (Kathmandu, Nepal, July 2018)
• Contributed to the WHO Maternal and Antenatal Care service delivery Situation Analysis (MIACSA) project which assesses the status of maternal immunization in middle and lower resource settings in preparation for the introduction of new maternal vaccines • Conducted interviews with representatives from the Ministry of Health and in-country stakeholders • Planned and executed successful visits to rural health facilities to collect data from interviewing health care providers and pregnant women In Tanzania and prepared final country report for presentation to relevant in-country stakeholders and subsequent dissemination to relevant global partners
• Managed evaluations of Gavi support (vaccine, health system strengthening and technical assistance grants) including design, coordination of adjudication and steering processes, oversight of implementation, and dissemination of results • Facilitated use of evidence for decision-making at global and country level in close engagement with relevant stakeholders, including donors, Gavi core partners (WHO, UNICEF, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and World Bank) and in-country stakeholders • Responsible for managing international and in-country research institutions and external consultants hired by Gavi to conduct prospective program evaluations, including the Full Country Evaluations project ongoing in 4 countries (led by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME)/PATH) from 2013 to 2019 and the Targeted Country Assistance evaluation (led by Deloitte) ongoing in 20 countries from 2016 to 2018. • Coordinated the preparation of materials for Gavi’s Evaluation Advisory Committee. Collaborated in the preparation of materials for other Gavi’s governance committees, including the Programme and Policy Committee, the Partners’ Engagement Framework (PEF) management team, and the Gavi Board • Responsible for identifying evaluation needs for future workplans and exploring collaboration with other global health institutions such as the WHO Evaluation office and The Global Fund • Focal point for developing the case for maternal vaccine candidates for the Gavi Vaccine Investment Strategy (VIS), including maternal Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), maternal influenza, and maternal Group B Streptococcus (GBS) • Represented Gavi at national, regional and global level meetings, including donor-related events
• Responsible for monitoring the reported country data of population receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) and data regarding prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) using the Global AIDS Response Progress Reporting Tool (GARPR) • Facilitated the validation with WHO and UNICEF to develop the World AIDS Day Report 2014