WHO supports Mauritius in assessing and empowering the National Immunization Technical Advisory Community

National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs) play a critical role in translating international immunization guidance into country-particular insurance policies. Comprising of independent nationwide experts, these our bodies provide proof-essentially based ideas tailored to local wants and contexts, enhancing belief in vaccines, protecting lives and strengthening public smartly being outcomes. The Mauritius National Immunization Technical Advisory Community (MAUNITAG), established in 2018, has played a pivotal role in guiding the nationwide vaccine policy. 

WHO and the NITAG Reinforce Hub (NISH) like the first exterior evaluation of the MAUNITAG in February 2025, looking at the functionality and maturity level of the MAUNITAG.  This turned into once adopted by a 3-day potential building of present individuals on the MAUNITAG functioning in accordance with existing standard operating procedures. 

MAUNITAG’s evaluation utilized the up to this point NITAG Maturity Overview Instrument (NMAT), which evaluates seven key indicators, including independence, operations, and policy integration.  

The evaluation highlighted a number of strengths of the MAUNITAG, including its numerous expertise, proactive engagement on emerging smartly being points, and solid collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Wellness and WHO. Nevertheless, the overview moreover revealed key challenges akin to exiguous institutional memory to allow enough onboarding of present individuals and insufficient potential for proof-essentially based advice processes to name about a. 

In her opening remarks of the potential building workshop for onboarding new MAUNITAG individuals, Dr. Anne Ancia, WHO Consultant in Mauritius, emphasized the significance of the overview: “This evaluation will handbook Mauritius to progress in direction of the Immunization Agenda 2030 wishes and the maturity level will inform the pattern of a reinforcement notion.”

Speaking at the workshop’s opening, Dr. Fazil Khodaboccus, Acting Director of Health Companies and light MAUNITAG Chair, highlighted “a core characteristic of any NITAG is to articulate nationwide authorities on the surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases and the monitoring of the influence of immunization providers and products, as smartly as on the monitoring of immunization and vaccine safety.” In the identical vein, he praised the neighborhood’s efforts since 2018: “The MAUNITAG has been instrumental in providing sound, proof-essentially based advice on vaccine introductions and time desk updates. I am assured that, with the sincere increase, MAUNITAG can progress to a extra evolved stage within 18 months.” 

Participants of the MAUNITAG gained information and abilities on the route of of preparing for Evidence to Advice; formulation of enormous policy questions and pattern of Inhabitants-Intervention-Comparability-Outcomes (PICO). They moreover learned to define standards for prioritization; the finest solution to amass vaccine safety and efficacy proof and summarization of proof for choice-making.

Ideas from the evaluation include establishing a devoted secretariat and sustainable funding, expanding membership to include extra non-public sector and academic experts, and enhancing digital documentation. 

Within the spirit of nurturing South-South Cooperation, WHO, as a key stakeholder in the NISH project contributing to an Africa freed from vaccine-preventable diseases, has secured the participation of six individuals of MAUNITAG in the 4th Vaccinology Direction for NITAGs in May per chance per chance also 2025. This will further strengthen the potential of MAUNITAG to originate proof-informed choices regarding vaccines and immunization practices.