Consultation on interactions between National Regulatory Authorities and National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups

Abstract

A consultation during the Developing Country Vaccine Regulators’ Network meeting of May 2010 considered the interactions between the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) and the National Regulatory Authority (NRA) in various countries. This meeting was co-hosted by the WHO and the Supporting Independent Immunization and Vaccine Advisory Committees Initiative implemented by the Agence de Médecine Préventive in partnership with the International Vaccine Institute. Representatives from Developing Country Vaccine Regulators’ Network and representatives from several additional countries’ regulatory authorities met representatives from NITAGs and/or the National Immunization Program from these countries (Brazil, Canada, China, Cuba, France, Indonesia, Iran, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam and the USA). The objectives of the workshop included a discussion on the issues of NRA–NITAG interaction, the assessment of the advantages of different models of interaction and proposals for an optimal coordination process for market authorization and recommendations for use of vaccines. It was concluded that there is need for increased and more formal interactions between NRAs and NITAGs, a clear framework establishing a formal interaction and early interactions before market authorization. NRA experts being at the same time NITAG ex officio members and vice versa are solutions which can be adopted by countries. The NRA issues the license based on the evidence submitted by the manufacturer. The NITAG makes recommendations based on scientific evidence, public health needs and policy, and consideration of the license conditions. If there is a need to make recommendations that are not covered by the license evidence then there should be interactions between NITAG, NRA and the license holder to encourage the license-holder to submit appropriate evidence, or to ensure that the justification for the off-label recommendation is communicated to the users of the medicine.

Keywords::

• decision-making
• evidence-based
• health policy
• immunization
• national immunization technical advisory groups
• national regulatory authorities
• vaccines license

Acknowledgements

This article is © World Health Organization 2011. All rights reserved. The World Health Organization has granted the Publisher permission for the reproduction of this article.

The efforts and contributions of all participants who attended and others that contributed to this consultation meeting are acknowledged. This meeting report was written by the authors on behalf of the meeting participants. The authors would like to thank all the participants for their helpful comments on the contents of this manuscript. This consultation meeting was organized and supported by the WHO, the SIVAC Initiative and the Indonesian Regulatory Authority.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.