Briefing papersFebruary 2020Anne Buffardi, Rachel A. Archer and Samuel SharpIsatu Bah gets a vaccination for her 5-week-old son in Freetown, Sierra Leone (2016). Photo: © Dominic Chavez/World BankA range of regional bodies support national decision-making processes related to immunisation and public health policy. This brief profiles five bodies in different geographic regions that vary in the orientation and breadth of their thematic scope: ProVac in the Americas, the Caribbean Immunization Technical Advisory Group (CITAG), South-East Asia Regional Immunization Technical Advisory Group (SEAR-ITAG), Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Programme (HITAP) through its International Unit (HIU) and the West African Health Organization (WAHO).Key messagesThe relative advantage and transferable lessons that each can offer relate directly to their thematic and institutional orientation. This varies from direct links to policy-makers, to helping establish and grow new national immunization technical advisory groups.All five groups grew out of established institutional structures and expanded over time. These histories have also shaped their accountability structures and current role in decision-making processes.Individuals’ time is a major cost driver, both for staff working for these regional bodies, and the people and institutions with and for whom they work. Regional bodies may be able to leverage some economies of scale by providing resources that multiple countries can draw upon; however, using these resources and interacting with regional bodies will still require dedicated time from national actors.Read the research Regional bodies supporting national-level evidence-informed decision-making on vaccinesDocumentpdfRelated Measuring evidence-informed decision-making processes in low- and middle-income countriesThis brief focuses on health policy and addresses measurement challenges and design considerations in evidence-informed decision-making.Briefing papers4 February 2020 Reaching universal health coverage: a political economy review of trends across 49 countriesThis paper reviews expanded healthcare in 49 countries.Working and discussion papers12 December 2019 The role of National Immunisation Technical Advisory Groups in evidence-informed decision-makingThis report outlines what could be done to strengthen and support National Immunisation Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs).Research reports and studies5 February 2019See more:healthevidence and policygovernanceCentral America and the CaribbeanAsiasub-Saharan Africa
