Palau Strengthening Vaccine-Preventable Disease Prevention and Response - Abstract for Palau Core Cooperative Agreement: Strengthening Vaccine Preventable Disease Prevention and Response Opportunity Number: 25-0007 The Republic of Palau has a total population of 17,614. Palau gained independence on October 1, 1994, and entered into a Freely Associated State (FAS) status with the U.S. Under this new political status, close economic, social, and political ties with the U.S. remain strong and vibrant. Only 9 of Palau’s islands are inhabited, with the main island group Babeldaob comprising eleven of the total sixteen Palauan States. The island of Koror, connected to Babeldaob by a bridge, is currently the Republic’s administrative and economic capital with the majority of the population residing in this district. The remaining states/outlying islands with distances ranging between 20 to 350 miles from Koror, and only accessible by boat and ship have up to seven hundred residents. The closest major cities or countries to Palau are Manila (528 miles), Guam (722 miles), and Tokyo (1,890 miles). By U.S. standards, the entire island nation of Palau is a rural area, medically underserved, and technologically divided. The Palau Immunization Program is responsible for providing access to vaccines for the prevention of vaccine preventable diseases (VPD) through the following strategies: 1. Strengthen program infrastructure and management 2. Increase vaccines 3. Improve vaccine equity 4. Promote vaccine confidence and demand 5. Enhance data and evaluation 6. Strengthen program support for partners 7. Enhance vaccination response and readiness As stewards of the vaccines for children, the eligible population ages 0-18 years is provided access to immunizations that stop the acquisition/spread of vaccine-preventable diseases. This funding opportunity will sustain the program’s public health infrastructure, maintain an adequate supply of vaccines to respond to VPD outbreaks, provide preventive immunization and follow up serologic testing of infants born to hepatitis B positive mothers, thus decreasing the cycle of hepatitis B infections among children.
