Publications

The Regional Immunization Technical Advisory Group (RITAG) for the WHO African Region, convened its semi-annual meeting on July 2-3, 2020, through a virtual zoom call. Overall more than 220 persons participated in the 2 days meeting. The meeting’s main theme was around the pandemic of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its impact on immunization services. It also addressed the issue of the COVID-19 vaccine development and access for the region. As wild poliovirus eradication certification is achieved in the region, while there is a recrudescence of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV) outbreaks, response to the outbreak’s situation with the introduction of a novel oral polio vaccine was also discussed.

Updates on immunization in the context of COVID-19 in the region specifically focused on the impact of COVID-19 on routine immunization (RI), the guidance developed and implemented for immunization in the context of the pandemic, and the needs for sustaining communication and demand for immunization. Burkina Faso and Ghana provided firsthand experience with immunization in the context of the pandemic. A review of the COVID-19 vaccine development, licensing & regulation guidelines including the development of the vaccine pipeline was also provided, as well as an update on the COVID-19 advance market commitment and COVAX facility. The discussion concluded with the emergency use listing and regulatory approval pathway for the introduction of the novel oral polio vaccine 2 (nOPV2) in response to the increased occurrence of cVDPV2 outbreaks.