GNN monthly update: March 23

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Dear all,

 

The preparation for the 5th edition of the Global NITAG Network (GNN) meeting is moving at full speed. It is scheduled for June 14-16th 2023 in Amman, Jordan. The meeting will be hybrid to allow remote participation and will be translated in French, Spanish and Arabic. Kindly register online and indicate if you intend to attend in person or remotely.

 

COVID-19:

JCVI published its statement on spring 2023 COVID-19 vaccinations. JCVI advises that an extra booster vaccine dose in spring 2023 should be offered to:

  • adults aged 75 years and over
  • residents in a care home for older adults
  • individuals aged 5 years and over who are immunosuppressed, as defined in tables 3 or 4 in the COVID-19 chapter of the Green Book

The spring booster dose should be offered around 6 months after the last vaccine dose, although operational flexibility around the timing of the spring dose in relation to the last vaccine dose is considered appropriate

 

Influenza:

ATAGI issued its advice on seasonal influenza vaccines in 2023, available here.

 

HPV:

CoNaIn (Argentina) recommends a one-dose schedule up to 20 years of age and two doses up to 26 years of age, which would facilitate the schedule and coverage with strict epidemiological and vaccination coverage surveillance. The nonvalent vaccine can be used when available, but the quadrivalent vaccine can continue to be used until then, since studies show no difference in immune response. People with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, dermatomyositis, and other autoimmune diseases should be included in the plan to receive immunosuppressive drugs.  CoNaIn also emphasizes need to communicate the strategy.

Suriname NITAG recommended at its March meeting the reduction of recommended dosages for girls from 3 to 1 and to include boys in the HPV vaccination program and adjust promotion material/campaign.

 

PCV :

NACIPublic health level recommendations on the use of pneumococcal vaccines in adults, including the use of 15-valent and 20-valent conjugate vaccines is now available. The summary of the recommendations is available here.

NACI also published Interim guidance on the use of pneumococcal 15-valent conjugate vaccine (PNEU-C-15) in pediatric populations, the recommendations are available here.

 

SAGE:

Call for experts: the SAGE working group on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is looking for experts: Open call for experts to serve on the SAGE working group on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (who.int)

SAGE meeting highlights are available here.

The ‘WHO SAGE Roadmap for prioritizing uses of COVID-19 vaccines’ was updated to reflect the SAGE recommendations, including:

  • administration of additional boosters doses (beyond the first booster dose) for high-priority groups, including frontline health workers 12 months after the previous booster dose;
  • additional booster doses are not routinely recommended for the medium risk group;
  • administration of a booster dose during pregnancy if the last dose was given more than 6 months earlier; and
  • considering the primary series and booster dose for healthy children 4 and adolescents only within country context, including disease burden in this age group, cost-effectiveness, other health or programmatic priorities, and opportunity costs.

The roadmap is available at: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-2019-nCoV-Vaccines-SAGE-Roadmap

 

Partners:

The HPV Vaccine Schedule Optimization — Key Considerations for Decision-Making, Planning and Implementation: This document is intended for use by countries in considering and planning for a successful introduction of a single dose HPV vaccination schedule or a switch from a multi-dose to a single dose HPV vaccination schedule. The document outlines key considerations and implications for national level planners, immunization programme managers, and immunization partners involved in providing decision-making and implementation support to countries. The document is available here.

 

GNN:

A GNN webinar on Monday 3rd April at 2pm (Geneva time) will offer the opportunity to ask questions to the SAGE secretariat on the recent SAGE recommendations, especially on the COVID-19 revised roadmap and malaria. Outlook Invitations have already been sent but if you did not receive it, let me know.

Best wishes to all!

Louise

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