Allergy and Immunology Center, and Department of Pediatrics, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
J Korean Med Sci. 2024 Jun 3;39(21):e166. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2024.39.e166.
The Korea Expert Committee on Immunization Practices (KECIP) is a key advisory body the government to develop guidelines and provide technical advisory activities on immunization policies in Korea. A recent policy study, inspired by global best practices, aims to enhance KECIP's functionality for providing timely and transparent recommendations in the face of evolving vaccine science and emerging infectious diseases like COVID-19.
This study reviewed the current status of KECIP and collected expert opinions through surveys and consultations. Among the 40 panel members who were surveyed, 19 responded to a questionnaire specifically designed to assess the potential areas of improvement within KECIP.
The majority of respondents favored maintaining the current member count and emphasized the need for a subcommittee. Opinions varied on issues such as the length of KECIP's term, the representation of vaccine manufacturers' perspectives, and the chairperson's role. However, there was a consensus on the importance of expertise, transparency, and fair proceedings within the committee.
This study underscores the pivotal role of KECIP in shaping national immunization policies, emphasizing the necessity for informed guidance amidst evolving vaccine science and emerging infectious diseases. Furthermore, it stressed the importance of enhancing KECIP's capacity to effectively address evolving public health challenges and maintain successful immunization programs in South Korea.
韩国免疫实践专家委员会（KECIP）是政府的一个重要咨询机构，负责制定免疫政策指南并提供技术咨询活动。受全球最佳实践的启发，最近的一项政策研究旨在增强 KECIP 的功能，以便在面对不断发展的疫苗科学和 COVID-19 等新发传染病时，提供及时和透明的建议。
本研究回顾了 KECIP 的现状，并通过调查和咨询收集了专家意见。在接受调查的 40 名小组成员中，有 19 人回答了专门设计的问卷，以评估 KECIP 潜在的改进领域。
大多数受访者赞成保持目前的成员人数，并强调需要一个小组委员会。对于 KECIP 的任期长短、疫苗制造商观点的代表性以及主席的角色等问题，意见不一。然而，委员会内部的专业知识、透明度和公正程序的重要性得到了一致认可。
这项研究强调了 KECIP 在制定国家免疫政策方面的关键作用，强调了在不断发展的疫苗科学和新发传染病背景下，需要有知情的指导。此外，它还强调了增强 KECIP 有效应对不断变化的公共卫生挑战和维持韩国成功免疫计划的能力的重要性。
