GNN monthly update: July 26

Global updates

• Official conclusions and recommendations of the SAGE meeting held 9–12 March 2026 are now available. Topics include COVID-19 vaccines, polio, and the Vaccine Portfolio Optimisation and Prioritisation (VPOP) approach, among other topics.
• The recent GNN webinar: Updates on existing and pipeline Ebola vaccines, including WHO emergency guidance on the use of licensed vaccines during Bundibugyo virus disease outbreaks is available at the NITAG Resource Center.
• Malaria vaccines updates are available at the vaccine compendium on the NITAG Resource Center
• Update to the SYSVAC registry: all systematic reviews published after 2026 now display information on methodological quality to highlight methodological shortcomings that led to their quality rating. This enables NITAGs decide whether a review may still be considered for evidence-based recommendation-making.
  Learn more about SYSVAC and try the e-learning courses on how to use systematic reviews for evidence-based recommendation-making.

Regional Updates

Region of the Eastern Mediterranean 

• A workshop to strengthen the functionality, maturity, and role of the Yemen NITAG was held in Amman, Jordan, from 22–25 June 2026.
• A capacity-building workshop for the newly established Djibouti NITAG is planned in Djibouti City from 29 June to 4 July 2026, focusing on roles, responsibilities, and the use of evidence-to-recommendation (EtR) frameworks.

Region of  Europe

• The report of the 25th ETAGE meeting held on 17-18 November 2025 was published here. The report reviews progress with immunization and control of vaccine-preventable diseases in WHO European Region and provides policy advice to the WHO Regional Office for Europe (WHO EURO) and its Member States.
• The German Robert Koch Institute and WHO EURO are conducting an online survey among NITAGs in Middle-Income Countries in the WHO European Region to better understand priority areas and preferred training formats for future support to strengthen NITAGs. Study results forthcoming. 

Region of South East Asia

• The workshop ​​​​​​​Orientation Programme for Members of National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups of WHO South-East Asia Region convened NITAG representatives and partners to enhance capacity across key areas, including evidence use, VPOP, emergency response, and emerging topics such as AI and vaccine confidence

Region of Western Pacific

• The 35th Meeting of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on Immunization and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in the Western Pacific Region was held in Manila from 16–18 June 2026, bringing together Member States and partners; this was followed by a Regional Working Group (RWG) meeting on 18 June 2026. A summary of the meeting is available on LinkedIn.

National Updates

COVID 19

• NACI (NITAG Canada) published their Guidance on the use of COVID-19 vaccines starting fall 2026. Available in English and French.

Meningococcal disease

• NACI published a Rapid response: Update on the use of quadrivalent conjugate meningococcal vaccines in children under 2 years of age. Available in English and French.

Pneumococcal disease

• NITAG Brazil published their technical guide for the introduction of PCV20 in the national immunization program. Available in Portuguese.

Best regards
Dr Philipp Lambach
World Health Organization

Antonia Pilic & Annika Falman
Robert Koch Institute