AMP's SIVAC Initiative Supports the Creation of a Mongolian National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG)

PARIS, January 4, 2011 - The inaugural meeting of the Mongolian National Immunization Technical
Advisory Group (NITAG) was held at the Ministry of Health in Ulaanbaatar on
December 6, 2010.

The NITAG is the first of its kind in Mongolia and was established based
on recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO). The committee's
role is to advise the Ministry of Health on all issues related to
immunization and vaccines such as the choice of vaccines to introduce,
schedules, quality and safety, and delivery systems.

The NITAG was approved by a ministerial decree issued in August 2010
defining terms of reference and procedural guidelines.

The SIVAC (Supporting Independent Immunization and Vaccine Advisory
Committees) Initiative, implemented by the Agence de Médecine Préventive
(AMP) in partnership with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), played
an important role in the creation of the NITAG. SIVAC, along with WHO and the
WHO Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO), provided technical support to the
Mongolian Ministry of Health in establishing committee structure, roles, and
responsibilities.

The first meeting of the Mongolian NITAG aimed to revise technical
guidelines and to clarify membership issues. The meeting was chaired by the
Vice Minister of Health, Dr. Jadamba Tsolmon, and brought together 10 newly
elected NITAG members. Among other things, it was decided that the National
Center for Communicable Diseases will serve as the secretariat and that the
committee will consist of 11 core (voting) members and 9 non-voting members.
Members also agreed to hold four meetings in 2011 and to develop a detailed
work plan.

"This NITAG is a very important step towards country ownership of
important health issues," said Dr. Philippe Stoeckel, chairman of AMP. "It
will enable health authorities to formulate immunization policies and
strategies according to Mongolia's specific needs. We hope it will lead to
the creation of similar committees in other countries."

The Mongolian NITAG is the second to be established with
support from the SIVAC Initiative. The first was launched in Côte d'Ivoire in
January 2010.

    RELATED LINKS
    www.sivacinitiative.org
    www.aamp.org
    www.ivi.int

    CONTACT
    Sabrina Gaber: amp@aamp.org, Telephone: +33-1-53-86-89-20

Sabrina Gaber: sgaber at aamp.org, Telephone: +33-1-53-86-89-20