Ba-Nguz Antoinette, Adjagba Alex, Wisnu Hendrarto Toto, Sewankambo Nelson K, Nalwadda Celia, Kisakye Annette
Health Policy and Institutional Center (Agence de Médecine Préventive), Paris, France.
Indonesia NITAG.
J Infect Dis. 2017 Jul 1;216(suppl_1):S109-S113. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiw601.
National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs) are established by national authorities to provide them with independent, bias-free, objective, and evidence-based advice on vaccines and immunization challenges. As of December 2015, 125 countries have reported having set up an NITAG. The Health Policy and Institutional Development Center at the Agence de Médecine Préventive, a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborative Center for evidence-informed immunization, through its Supporting Independent Immunization and Vaccine Advisory Committees (SIVAC) Initiative project, provides assistance to low- and middle-income countries in the establishment and strengthening of their NITAGs. The Indonesian NITAG (ITAGI) was formed in December 2006 and Uganda's (UNITAG) was formed in November 2014. Both Uganda and Indonesia have introduced inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) as part of the Global Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan (the Endgame plan). The authors reflect on the process and the role played by NITAGs in the introduction of IPV in the routine immunization program and the lessons learned.
This commentary is a reflection of the authors' experience on NITAG's role as observed in 2 particular local settings and applied to a global public health issue, the polio eradication Endgame plan. The reflection is backed up by the relevant (policy and technical) documents on polio eradication, along with minutes and reports from countries' ministries of health, immunization programs, WHO, and NITAGs.
NITAGs are valuable tools for ministries of health to ensure sustainable, evidence-informed immunization policies that are trusted and accepted by their communities. Early engagement with NITAGs also ensures that the adoption of strategies addressing global public health threats at the country level reinforces the national immunization programs. On the other end, when NITAGs are proactive and forward-thinking, they can contribute to a smooth and effective introduction of the above-mentioned strategies. Time and resources are key factors to ensure optimal performance of NITAGs.
国家免疫技术咨询小组（NITAGs）由国家当局设立，旨在就疫苗和免疫挑战为其提供独立、无偏见、客观且基于证据的建议。截至2015年12月，已有125个国家报告设立了NITAG。预防医学机构的卫生政策与机构发展中心是世界卫生组织（WHO）循证免疫合作中心，通过其支持独立免疫和疫苗咨询委员会（SIVAC）倡议项目，为低收入和中等收入国家建立和加强其NITAG提供援助。印度尼西亚的NITAG（ITAGI）于2006年12月成立，乌干达的（UNITAG）于2014年11月成立。乌干达和印度尼西亚都已引入灭活脊髓灰质炎疫苗（IPV），作为全球根除脊髓灰质炎和终结战略计划（终结计划）的一部分。作者们反思了NITAG在将IPV引入常规免疫规划过程中所起的作用以及汲取的经验教训。
本评论反映了作者在两个特定本地环境中观察到的NITAG的作用，并将其应用于全球公共卫生问题——脊髓灰质炎根除终结计划。该反思得到了关于脊髓灰质炎根除的相关（政策和技术）文件以及各国卫生部、免疫规划、WHO和NITAG的会议记录和报告的支持。
NITAG是卫生部确保可持续、循证免疫政策的宝贵工具，这些政策为其社区所信任和接受。与NITAG的早期接触还可确保在国家层面采用应对全球公共卫生威胁的战略，从而加强国家免疫规划。另一方面，当NITAG积极主动且具有前瞻性时，它们有助于顺利、有效地引入上述战略。时间和资源是确保NITAG最佳绩效的关键因素。
