Strategic Advisory Group of Experts
The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) is a body that advises the World Health Organization (WHO). It was established by DGWHO Gro Harlem Brundtland in 1999 "to provide guidance on the work of WHO. SAGE is the principal advisory group to WHO for vaccines and immunization. It is charged with advising WHO on overall global policies and strategies, ranging from vaccines and biotechnology, research and development, to delivery of immunization and its linkages with other health interventions. SAGE is concerned not just with childhood vaccines and immunization, but all vaccine-preventable diseases."
Membership
The SAGE has 15 members, who are "recruited and selected as acknowledged experts from around the world in the fields of epidemiology, public health, vaccinology, paediatrics, internal medicine, infectious diseases, immunology, drug regulation, programme management, immunization delivery, health-care administration, health economics, and vaccine safety."[1]
Working groups
"SAGE meets at least twice a year, with working groups established for detailed review of specific topics prior to discussion by the full group. Priorities of work and meeting agendas are developed by the Group in consultation with WHO bureaucrats and .[2]
"UNICEF, the Secretariat of the GAVI Alliance, and WHO Regional Offices participate as observers in SAGE meetings and deliberations. WHO also invites other observers to SAGE meetings, including representatives from WHO regional technical advisory groups, non-governmental organizations, international professional organizations, technical agencies, donor organizations and associations of manufacturers of vaccines and immunization technologies. Additional experts may be invited, as appropriate, to further contribute to specific agenda items."[2]
As of September 2020, working groups were established for the following diseases:[2]
- COVID-19
- Ebola
- Hepatitis A
- HPV
- Influenza
- Measles and rubella
- Meningococcal vaccines and vaccination
- Pneumococcal vaccines
- Polio vaccine
- Programme Advisory Group (PAG) for the Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme
References
- "SAGE members". World Health Organization. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
- "SAGE working mechanisms and working groups". World Health Organization. Retrieved 20 September 2020.