21st Meeting of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on Immunization and Vaccine Preventable Diseases in the Western Pacific Region
21-23 August 2012 - Manila, Philippines
Background information
Immunization contributes significantly to the health of our Region’s people, especially children, by protecting them against vaccine-preventable diseases. The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in the Western Pacific Region has made substantial progress over the past few years but continues to face challenges. Annual meetings of the Technical Advisory Group on Immunization and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (TAG) for the Western Pacific Region remain a key mechanism to jointly monitor programme performance, review technical and programmatic challenges and provide recommendations for strengthening immunization programmes and systems.
The participation of Member States in TAG meetings is critical to accurately understand progress and common challenges of national immunization programmes. The Member States' participation also provides a forum for technical discussion of new developments in immunization and ensures acceptability of TAG recommendations. The meeting will provide an opportunity for Member States and partners to learn from each other's experiences and challenges and receive advice from the TAG with special emphasis on targeted disease control goals (measles/rubella, hepatitis B, poliomyelitis, maternal and neonatal tetanus), introducing new and underutilized vaccines, strengthening routine immunization systems, vaccine safety and security, and resource mobilization.
Objectives
The objectives of the meeting are:
- to review progress, identify obstacles and recommend key actions required to achieve the regional goals of measles elimination, rubella and hepatitis B control and maintaining poliomyelitis-free status;
- to identify priority areas for strengthening immunization systems including ensuring vaccine safety and security through building the national regulatory capacity in the Region;
- to review progress, discuss plans, specify critical issues and propose ways forward to accelerate the introduction of new vaccines and technologies in the Region; and
- to provide partners an opportunity to be updated on progress, challenges, priority activities, funding requirements and gaps.