Report of the Meeting of the Scientific Advisory Group of Experts (‎SAGE)‎, 1-3 November 1999

Overview

Because a number of highly technical commitees now advise WHO's Department of Vaccines and Biologicals (V&B) on specific issues such as polio eradication and immunization safety, a need was perceived for a committee that could take a broad view of WHO's vaccine-related work. The Strategic Advisory Group ofExperts (SAGE) was therefore established. 

In order to plan for future needs, V&B developed a strategic plan for the next biennium, covering the following areas of work: innovation, immunization systems and accelerated disease control. For each a priority project was selected, namely accelerated vaccine introduction, immunization safety and polio eradication. 

The first meeting of SAGE, whose members were selected for their expertise and geogrpahical repsresentation, was convened on 1-3 November 1999 in Geneva to advise V&B on the three main strategic aspects of its programme.