10th Meeting of the European Technical Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (ETAGE)

The European Technical Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (ETAGE) met on 29–30 September 2009 to review and discuss immunization activities and developments in the WHO European Region and provide advice to the WHO Regional Office on appropriate activities.

Following the advice of the 9th ETAGE meeting, a full day was spent on discussing surveillance for vaccine preventable diseases. EU Member States are currently required to report surveillance data to both WHO and to ECDC. Establishment of a multiagency working group to rationalize and harmonize reporting requirements was urged.

Faced with a large potential funding gap for 2010–2011, WHO was advised to establish a meeting with funding partners and potential partners as soon as possible, to extend collaborative activities with partner agencies and immunization initiatives, and continue to outsource activities to WHO collaborating centres and other technical institutions where possible.