The National Immunization Technical Advisory Group in Israel

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Immunization Policy
• Health Technology Assessment

Background:

• National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs) are WHO-defined expert bodies advising on national immunization policies.
• The Israeli NITAG, established in 1974, operates as the Advisory Committee on Infectious Diseases and Immunizations.
• Publicly available minutes since 2007 ensure transparency in the NITAG's evidence-informed decision-making process.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the structure, function, and challenges of the Israeli NITAG.
• To highlight the NITAG's role in vaccine introduction and public health.
• To contextualize the NITAG's work within Israel's universal health coverage system.

Main Methods:

• Review of the Israeli NITAG's establishment and mandate.
• Analysis of its role in the national health services basket decision-making process.
• Consideration of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Main Results:

• The Israeli NITAG provides crucial, evidence-based recommendations for vaccine introduction and scheduling.
• It operates within a framework that requires vaccines to compete with other health technologies for inclusion in the national health basket.
• The NITAG plays a vital role in maintaining routine immunization programs and advising on COVID-19 vaccination campaigns.

Conclusions:

• The Israeli NITAG is essential for national communicable disease control and evidence-based immunization policy.
• Its structured, transparent, and WHO-compliant processes are vital for public health.
• The NITAG's adaptability is demonstrated by its ongoing role during the COVID-19 pandemic.