Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization: reports
10-12 April 2012
The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on immunization (SAGE) met on 11-12 April 2012 in Geneva, Switzerland. On polio eradication, the group was presented with the latest summaries of both the global and national emergency action plans for Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan, as well as a summary of the current financing gap affecting the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) and its impact on fully implementing the emergency activities. The SAGE expressed serious alarm at the funding situation, and strongly appealed for donor and government support. Globally, the GPEI continues to be faced with a >US$1 billion shortfall in its 2012-2013 budget. Insufficient financing has forced the programme to cancel or substantially scale back polio vaccination activities during the first half of 2012. A continued funding crisis will preclude the full implementation of the emergency plans.
Conclusions and recommandations [pdf] - will be available by 25 May
16-17 February 2012
Conclusion and recommandations [pdf]
English ¦ French
08-10 November 2011
Reviewing the latest polio epidemiology, SAGE expressed alarm that the risk of failure to finish global polio eradication constitutes a programmatic emergency of global proportions for public health, and was not acceptable under any circumstances. SAGE urged that rapid steps be taken to tighten accountability for programme and individual performance within governments as well as implementing and donor agencies, and that the effort is fully financed. Given the ongoing international spread of poliovirus from infected areas, SAGE encouraged the application of appropriate vaccination recommendations for all travellers to and from polio-infected areas. At the same time, SAGE stressed that communities and civil societies must be engaged and mobilized to put pressure on governments to ensure that they remain committed to the disease's eradication. SAGE recommended that polio-infected countries be requested to submit an annual progress report to the World Health Assembly.
Presentations to the SAGE on polio eradication.
GPEI Context and Issue [pdf]
Current situation and Operational Priorities throught mid-2012 [pdf]
Conclusions and recommandations [pdf]
4-5 April 2011
Conclusions and recommendations.
9-11 November 2010
The SAGE reviewed progress towards the achievement of the global milestones of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) Strategic Plan 2010-2012. The group noted the strong achievements in key endemic historic reservoirs, notably India and Nigeria, but at the same time expressed concern at increased transmission in Pakistan; ongoing and new outbreaks in central Africa (Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Congo) and parts of central Asia; and, the urgent need to fill sub-national surveillance gaps in key areas. The SAGE highlighted the need to urgently fill the ongoing funding gap of US$810 million for the life of the new Strategic Plan.
Presentations to the SAGE on polio eradication
Major programmatic developments and epidemiologic impact[pdf]
Assessment of current/emerging risks to polio eradication [pdf]
Summary, conclusions and recommendations published in:
Weekly Epidemiological Record 2011;86(1-2):1-16 (English, French)
13-15 April 2010
Conclusions and recommendations English | français
27–29 October 2009
SAGE reviewed the Independent evaluation of the major barriers to interrupting poliovirus transmission, and emphasized the need for more intensive work to counter the low rates of routine immunization in endemic and persistently re-infected countries. It urged the global Polio Eradication Initiative to rapidly consider the important role of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in districts that are difficult to access, and the targeted use of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) in areas of compromised oral polio vaccine efficacy. SAGE also strongly supported the proposal for an enhanced research agenda and the rapid scale-up of bivalent oral polio vaccine use. Finally, SAGE reviewed the IPV working group recommendations for the draft WHO position paper on routine polio immunization.
Conclusions and recommendations English [pdf] | French [pdf]