WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization is established

In 1999 the Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, the Director-General of the World Health Organization established the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization.  “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 technology, 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.” [1, 5]

SAGE was the result of the merging of already established Scientific Advisory Group of Experts (also SAGE) [6] and the Global Advisory Group (which served the Expanded Program on Immunizations (EPI). [2]

SAGE is “an independent review team” which meets at least twice a year, and publish in the WHO Weekly Epidemiological Record, within 2 months of their meeting, their “conclusions and recommendations” for the world.  SAGE establish working groups for each vaccine or a specific topic, then provide this information prior, for discussion by the full SAGE group. Priorities of work and meeting agendas are developed by the Group in consultation with WHO.  The WHO ARCHIVE their a June 9-11, 1998 “Scientific” SAGE report with is prior to first meeting of the new “Strategic” SAGE held November 1-3, 1999.

WHO SAGE’s recommendations feeds into national immunization technical advisory groups, which in turn advise country-level immunization policy.

In accordance with its mandate, SAGE produce Vaccine Position Papers, these summary documents on each vaccine product influence vaccine policy world wide.  As WHO website changes its harder to find content, here are links to vaccine PP to learn about each vaccine and see how the “position” changes over time – 2006, 2010, 2018, 2022, LIVE) [3, 4]

As Dr Brundtland announced, at 52nd WHA in 1999, the time marks the date that WHO begin “putting the spotlight back on immunization as one of the most cost-effective health interventions.”