New committee to advise the World Health Organization on immunization practices

New committee to advise the World Health Organization on immunization practices by Shelley Deeks, Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion and IPAC Chairperson, and Rudi Eggers, WHO/IVB In late June, Dr. Jean-Marie Okwo-Bele, Director of Immunization, Vaccinations and Biologicals (IVB) at the World Health Organization’s (WHO) welcomed the first biannual meeting of the Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (IPAC) (http://www.who.int/immunization_delivery/systems_policy/ipac/en/). In his opening remarks he explained that IPAC, which replaces the Technical and Logistics Advisory Committee (TLAC), was formed to advise WHO on issues relating to the practical and operational aspects of immunization programs, ultimately helping WHO achieve the goals set out in the Global Immunization Vision and Strategy (http://www.who.int/immunization/givs/en/). According to its terms of reference, “IPAC has no executive, regulatory, or decision-making function. Its sole role is to provide advice and recommendations to the director of WHO/IVB in three interconnected areas.” These areas include (1) strategies, such as those relating to immunization delivery, integration with other disease control efforts, and implementation of policy recommendations, (2) operations, such as those relating to management, vaccine introduction, supply chain, information systems, and financial sustainability, and (3) tools and technologies, such as those relating to vaccine packaging, assessment tools, and immunization strengthening. In the few cases where IPAC recommendations relate to strategic matters, they will require further discussion a! nd endorsement by the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts. At the first meeting, the 12 IPAC founding members selected by the Director of WHO/IVB plus five permanent observer members1 covered several topics relating to immunization program performance and policy implementation. Initial discussions focused on the need to continue developing visual cues to help health workers interpret and implement a revised multidose vial policy (MDVP) (https://apps.who.int/vaccines-access/vacman/mdvp/mdvp.htm). Based on earlier recommendations from the TLAC, a set of draft visual cues have been developed and are currently being tested among health workers in three countries. IPAC members weighed in on the process, discussed the need for more intense field testing and consideration of legibility on vaccine vials, and developed a timeline for the work going forward. The group also discussed the proposed process for determining programmatic suitability of vaccines for prequalification (viewtopic.php?t=1703)(PSPQ), pinpointing areas that need further consideration, and agreeing on next steps for aligning the work with the MDVP revisions. The next topic of discussion related to hepatitis B control programs and the challenges of offering birth doses in countries lacking infrastructure, financing, and trained personnel to deliver vaccinations. The IPAC decided on several areas for further discussion, with the goal of providing a global recommendation on practices related to the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine in its next meeting. The final topic of discussion related to data collection issues that arise when “routine” immunization is complemented by campaign-like delivery methods such as Child Health Days, Materials Child Health Weeks, and Immunization Weeks. With over 100 countries participating in these “periodic intensification of routine immunization” activities, there is a need for global guidance to help countries standardize and efficiently record coverage data. IPAC members are developing draft guidance materials to present at the next meeting. The IPAC meeting adjourned with multiple action items and a preliminary list of priority topics for its next meeting in Geneva on November 4 to 5, 2010. Meeting reports, founding members, and the committee’s terms of reference are available on the IPAC web page. We invite you to comment on or post a question relating to this article by clicking the “post reply” button on this page. You will have to log in or register; the process is very simple.Return to the Optimize newsletter. _____________1. Five permanent observer members represent the following organizations: United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations, Developing Country Vaccine Manufacturers Network, PATH, and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).