Abstract
BackgroundNational Immunisation Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs) are multi-disciplinary expert groups that provide policy-makers with independent, evidence-based advice on vaccination. Between 2008 and 2017, the SIVAC Initiative supported establishment and strengthening of NITAGs in low and lower-middle income countries though its impact was never assessed quantitatively. AimTo quantitatively assess whether SIVAC support is associated with a faster rate at which NITAGs became functional based on six performance indicators. MethodsData from the World Health Organization/Unicef Joint Reporting Form (JRF) from 77 low and lower-middle-income countries were used to examine the time delay between the start of SIVAC support and NITAG functionality using a Cox proportional hazards model. ResultsCountries receiving SIVAC support took a mean of 2.00 (95% CI 1.40–2.60) years to reported functionality compared to 2.82 (95% CI 2.05–3.59) years for countries without SIVAC support. We found evidence that SIVAC support is associated with reduced time until NITAG functionality, and this association cannot fully be explained by GDP per capita, percentage of GDP spent on healthcare, or NITAG functionality score at the start of the study period. However, quality of JRF data for the questions used to calculate NITAG functionality were poor, particularly for countries not receiving SIVAC support. ConclusionSIVAC support is likely to have enabled many countries to more rapidly achieve NITAG functionality.
Highlights
Since the introduction of the Expanded Programme on Immunization in 1974, numerous vaccines have been developed against life-threatening diseases such as childhood diarrhoea, pneumonia, meningitis and cervical cancer
To support evidence-based decision making, the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Global Vaccine Action Plan 2011–2020 calls for all countries to establish or have access to a National Immunisation Technical Advisory Group (NITAG)
There is some evidence that NITAG functionality is associated with receiving Supporting Independent Immunization and Vaccine Advisory Committees (SIVAC)
Summary
Since the introduction of the Expanded Programme on Immunization in 1974, numerous vaccines have been developed against life-threatening diseases such as childhood diarrhoea, pneumonia, meningitis and cervical cancer. To support evidence-based decision making, the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Global Vaccine Action Plan 2011–2020 calls for all countries to establish or have access to a National Immunisation Technical Advisory Group (NITAG). National Immunisation Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs) are multi-disciplinary expert groups that provide policy-makers with independent, evidence-based advice on vaccination. Between 2008 and 2017, the SIVAC Initiative supported establishment and strengthening of NITAGs in low and lower-middle income countries though its impact was never assessed quantitatively. Methods: Data from the World Health Organization/Unicef Joint Reporting Form (JRF) from 77 low and lower-middle-income countries were used to examine the time delay between the start of SIVAC support and NITAG functionality using a Cox proportional hazards model.
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