Wednesday, 02 October 2024
POST-PRESSER LINKS
Virtual press conference on the outcomes of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) meeting
The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) held a virtual press conference yesterday, 01 October, to discuss the outcomes and recommendations from their regular biannual meeting from 23 to 26 September.
Speakers in the press conference were Dr Hanna Nohynek, Chair of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization; Dr Kate O’Brien, Director, Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals, WHO; and Dr Joachim Hombach, Senior Health Advisor, WHO and SAGE Executive Secretary.
POST-PRESSER LINKS:
Audio recording:
Video recording: https://who.canto.global/b/JO2FI
Key highlights (full text of the meeting highlights can be accessed here):
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine: SAGE recommends the introduction of passive immunization (maternal vaccination and monoclonal antibody administration in infants) for the prevention of severe RSV disease in young infants in all countries. For countries that decide to use the maternal vaccine to prevent severe RSV disease in infants, SAGE recommends a single dose of vaccine in the third trimester of pregnancy.
- Universal rubella vaccine: SAGE discussed the current WHO recommendation requiring 80% coverage threshold with measles-containing vaccines as a requirement for the introduction of rubella containing vaccine (RCV), and recommended that this threshold be lifted.
- Poliomyelitis: SAGE expressed support for the planning for the eventual global cessation of bivalent oral poliovirus vaccines (bOPV) use and endorsed the evolving policy framework, triggers and principles of risk tiering of countries for bOPV cessation, noting that further work on the plan is ongoing.
- Mpox: SAGE received an update on the current status of the ongoing mpox public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) and the progress in implementing their recommendations from the WHO mpox vaccine position paper published in August 2024.
- Immunization coverage: Global coverage of the human papillomavirus (HPV) has increased substantially in 2023 and malaria vaccines are now in use in 13 African countries, with additional countries to introduce in 2024 and 2025.
- Immunization Agenda 2030: While trends in vaccination coverage and zero-dose children have remained flat or seen a reversal in several WHO regions, there are exemplary countries that are sustaining high coverage. High political will and strong accountability processes at the subnational levels appear to be common attributes in such countries.
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