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An evaluation of a multifaceted training program to build National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG)
Rena Fukunaga1, Lisandro Torre2, Abigail M Shefer1
1Global Immunization Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Background:
Since January 2022, regional National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) workshops have been held for more than 50 countries to strengthen participants' understanding of NITAG functions, basic vaccinology, and the ability to make evidence-based decisions on vaccines. A midterm evaluation was conducted in select countries to assess impact and guide future workshop enhancements, ensuring content is tailored to country-specific needs and practical application of NITAG functions.
Methods:
An online questionnaire was conducted between December 2023 and February 2024, targeting NITAGs from 12 workshops held 6-24 months earlier in the African (AFR) and Eastern Mediterranean (EMR) Regions. Each country submitted one consolidated response covering five sections: general information, basic NITAG functions, the evidence-to-recommendation (EtR) process, vaccinology, and training agenda.
Results:
Of 28 NITAGs trained between February 2022 and August 2023, 21 (75%; 13/15 AFR, 8/13 EMR) participated in the evaluation survey. Most NITAGs (76%) participated in multi-country workshops, with median 10 individuals (range 2-22) per country. Following the workshops, 67% of NITAGs developed or revised key documents (e.g., standard operating procedures) and 50% updated other policies (e.g., conflict of interest). Among 19 NITAGs that attended the full EtR training, 11 completed the vaccine-specific EtR process started during the workshop (6 also applied the EtR process to additional vaccines). Among 15 NITAGs that attended vaccinology sessions, all reported applying the knowledge in their work. Respondents requested more time for evidence analysis and synthesis during future trainings.
Conclusions:
Post training evaluation of NITAG capacity-building workshops showed positive and sustained impact for operations, vaccinology, and the application of the EtR process for a vaccine policy question. Our findings suggest future workshops may be enhanced by requiring pre-training eLearning modules and strengthening indicators to monitor training quality and outcomes. Such improvements may help to reinforce NITAG capacity for evidence-informed immunization policy-making.
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