The second meeting, organized within the scope of cooperation efforts between Türkiye and the United Kingdom aimed at the mutual exchange of knowledge and experience to enhance general immunization and lifelong vaccine acceptance, was conducted as part of an official work program held in Ankara between January 28–30, 2026, with the participation of an expert delegation from the United Kingdom.

While the initial phase of this cooperation process was conducted virtually, this official visit to Ankara marks the first face-to-face technical meeting held between the parties.

The cooperation meeting commenced on January 28, 2026, with an introductory and briefing session hosted by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Türkiye and Health Institutes of Türkiye (TÜSEB). During the meeting, detailed discussions were held regarding the structure of immunization services in Türkiye, the national vaccination schedule, surveillance and early warning systems, monitoring processes for adverse events following immunization (AEFI), and the operational framework of the Vaccine Tracking System (VTS). Furthermore, the opening sessions featured comprehensive presentations on the general structure of healthcare services in Türkiye and the organization of primary healthcare services.

In the remainder of the meeting, mutual insights and experiences were shared regarding the National Childhood Vaccination Schedule, infectious disease surveillance systems, early warning and response mechanisms, vaccine monitoring and registration systems, and the structure and operation of immunization advisory boards. During the second session of the day, current practices for adult immunization policies were evaluated, focusing on the transfer of expertise and best-practice examples between the two countries.

On January 29, 2026, the program continued with a morning session led by Assoc. Prof. Şuayip Birinci, Deputy Minister of Health of the Republic of Türkiye. This session featured a technical presentation and evaluation of the e-Nabız (Personal Health Record) and electronic health record systems within the framework of Türkiye’s digital transformation in healthcare. The role of digital health infrastructure in immunization services was discussed in detail. Furthermore, patient service delivery points and processes were demonstrated with real-time examples, and methods for monitoring healthcare quality data—along with the impact of such data on service delivery—were shared.

Following the presentation, a field visit was conducted to the Ankara Vaccine Storage Facility, where vaccine logistics processes, cold chain applications, and the role of electronic health record systems in the planning, monitoring, and evaluation of immunization services were examined on-site.

On the morning of January 30, 2026, a visit was paid to a Training Family Health Centre. During the visit, all processes—from the moment of patient admission to the conclusion of service delivery—were demonstrated in real-time. The implementation of vaccination and immunization services within primary healthcare was discussed through field experiences, followed by comprehensive evaluations and a mutual exchange of views.

In the closing sessions held on the same day, Türkiye’s monitoring and control systems for varicella and herpes zoster (shingles) were discussed, alongside adult immunization approaches for high-risk groups. These discussions were supported by mutual evaluations and interactive Q&A sessions.
The program was successfully concluded with the planning of a future visit to the United Kingdom to examine their relevant processes and infrastructure on-site. This visit aims to foster sustainable cooperation in lifelong immunization, facilitate the creation of shared vaccination and epidemiological data sources, and identify collaborative strategic areas for future joint initiatives.