Face-to-face surveys of policy-makers and other influential leaders are
a useful tool to identify, at an early stage, (a) major issues
regarding the introduction of a new vaccine, (b) persons and groups in
a country who play a major decision-making or influential role in the
introduction of vaccines, (c) potential obstacles to the introduction
of vaccines, and (d) data-needs of policy-makers to overcome these
obstacles. By surveying the opinions and beliefs of those who will make
or influence decisions on whether to introduce a new vaccine, these
studies can help ensure that research activities respond to the needs
of policy-makers in countries endemic for the target diseases. These
surveys can also inform vaccine-introduction strategies by identifying
financially and politically feasible means of distributing, targeting,
and financing the vaccines. This paper describes the methodology used
in conducting such surveys and discusses methodological issues. It also
presents lessons learnt from two policy-maker surveys carried out in
several Asian countries in regard to new-generation vaccines against
cholera, typhoid fever, and shigellosis; and future vaccines against
dengue fever/dengue haemorrhagic fever