Policy and guidance
As laid out in WHO’s 13th General Programme of Work, WHO has a unique status as a science- and evidence-based organization that sets globally applicable norms and standards in a rapidly changing world. . The Immunization, Vaccines and
Biologicals (IVB) Policy Unit is responsible for ensuring the development and strengthening of global immunization policy recommendations on the basis of evidence-based practices.
The Policy Unit hosts the Secretariat of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization, an independent advisory group established by the Director-General in 1999, which is charged with providing guidance to WHO on global immunization
policy recommendations and strategies. The scope of work for SAGE is to advise, in close collaboration with the WHO Regional Offices, on the prevention and control of all vaccine-preventable diseases of public health relevance throughout the life-course
for every person, as an integral component of primary health care and in the context of health systems strengthening and universal health coverage for all regions of the world and as laid out in the Immunization Agenda 2030: A Global Strategy to Leave No One Behind.
WHO policy recommendations, based on advice by SAGE, are reflected in the WHO vaccine position papers. The WHO position papers summarize essential background information on the respective diseases and vaccines and also present the WHO position in the
global setting. WHO vaccine position papers undergo a formal review process and are designed to assist Member States with the development of optimal immunization schedules for diseases that have a global public health impact. Key recommendations are
compiled in summary tables. SAGE meeting reports can also comprise strategic and policy advice.
In addition, SAGE also provides input into WHO strategies and various guidance and programmatic documents pertaining to strategy, such as the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, the Global Vaccine Action Plan and its successor the Immunisation Agenda
2030.
In 2018-2019, a comprehensive external evaluation of SAGE was conducted that led to an update of the terms of reference and a refresh of working processes.
Deliberations from other, more focused global advisory committees, such as on vaccine safety or biologicals standardization, inform SAGE. In turn, regional technical advisory groups help identify specific regional challenges and define priorities.
Taking into consideration the local context, national immunization technical advisory groups provide guidance to national policy makers.
The Policy Unit further ensures the support and strengthening of National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs).
