Abstract

Roberto Arroba is the National coordinator of immunization in Costa Rica, in charge of the secretariat of the NITAG and also a core group member of the Global NITAG Network (GNN).

You attended the GNN meeting last year, what was the main take home message?
NITAGs should be a priority for countries. They are the ones driving national immunization policies. Not only should NITAG meetings be held on a regular basis but also tackle national priority topics.


You are part of the GNN core group, what is the priority for the network?
The core group needs to be established officially in order to meet, if not in person, at least virtually. 


What’s happening for the NITAG in Costa Rica at the moment?
We are currently finishing a cost-effectiveness study on HPV. Hopefully, it will be over by May 2017. If it is cost-effective, it will lead to the NITAG recommendation to introduce the vaccine in the country. Similarly, the rotavirus vaccine was recommended by the NITAG following a cost-effectiveness study and we are now waiting to get the funding to introduce it. We are also very busy with the implementation of a national computerized nominal immunization registry that was recommended by the NITAG 4 years ago. The Ministry of Health is now enforcing the advice. The nominal immunization registry will be piloted in the private sector first.

 

  • Costa Rica