GNN monthly update: May 2026

Global Updates

• TechNet webinar of the WHO Guidance for Using Modelling for Immunization Decision‑Making, 5 May 2026, for NITAG members, national decision‑makers, and partners. It will provide a practical overview of how modelling can be used, interpreted, and appraised to inform immunization policy, including an expert panel discussion and audience Q&A. Register here.
   
• NITAG Partners’ Retreat in Cape Town, 3–4 June 2026, will bring global and regional partners together to coordinate support for Vaccine Prioritization and Portfolio Optimization (VPOP) in countries, and identify collaborative, resource‑efficient strategies to strengthen NITAG and EPI decision‑making. 
   

• GNN webinar on updated WHO PCV Position Paper, held on 22 April 2026, provided an presentation on the systematic review of evidence supporting PCV 1+1 schedules. Recordings available in English, French and Spanish.

   

Regional Updates

Region of Africa:

• Recruitment: On behalf of Vaccination for Africa (VACFA), Genesis Analytics is recruiting a Senior Associate to support the National Advisory Group on Immunization (NAGI)  in co-creating model-based recommendations, contributing to data analysis and economic modelling across immunization programmes. Application via career portal by 30 April 2026.

Region of the Eastern Mediterranean:

• Iran NITAG is the first in the Eastern Mediterranean Region to apply the New Vaccine Introduction Prioritization and Sequencing Tool (NVI-PST) identifying HPV, Tdap (for pregnant women),  PCV and influenza (for high-risk groups) as top candidates for vaccine introduction over the next 4 years. 

Region of South East Asia:

• The Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), in collaboration with the WHO Regional Office for South‑East Asia (WHO SEARO), is convening a three‑day interactive, in‑person orientation programm for Immunization Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) members from 16–18 June 2026 in New Delhi, India to  provide focused guidance on the effective functioning of NITAGs and orientation on Vaccine Prioritization and Portfolio Optimization (VPOP).  

Region of Western Pacific:

• The 35th Meeting of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on Immunization and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in the Western Pacific Region is planned for 16–18 June 2026 in Manila, Philippines. 
• Training opportunity: The Second Annual Australian Vaccinology Course is open for applications until 10 May. This 3-day face-to-face course is designed for people involved in vaccination, such as policymaking, clinical practice, research or other public health roles.

National Updates

Dengue

• The Dutch NITAG advises against offering programmatic dengue vaccination to residents in the Dutch Caribbean islands.

Hepatitis B

• The Swedish NITAG updated their recommendations for infants and groups with increased risks, available in Swedish.

Meningococcal disease

• The German NITAG (STIKO) published a statement on the importance of meningococcal vaccination for adolescents and young adults. Available in German.

Mpox

• The Belgium NITAG updated their vaccination strategy against monkeypox virus.

Rabies

• The Canadian NITAG (NACI) updated their guidance on the assessment of exposure to a potentially rabid animal, available in English and French here.

RSV

• NACI updated their guidances for older adults and for adults at high risk of severe RSV and use of monoclonal antibodies (nirsevimab and clesrovimab) and the RSVpreF vaccine for infants and children.

Additional recommendations

• STIKO has published their recommendations for 2026 in English.
• NACI published an overview article for their 60th anniversary, available in English and French.
• The Brazilian NITAG published their Vaccination Strategy in Schools 2026, available in Portuguese.

Recent publications

• Comparison of NITAG performance reporting tools in the Eastern Mediterranean Region shows high overall concordance (90%) between self‑reported WHO/UNICEF Joint Reporting Form (eJRF) data and the NITAG Maturity Assessment Tool (NMAT), with weaker alignment in lower‑income and Gavi‑eligible countries, highlighting the need for harmonized indicators and targeted support to strengthen data reliability. 
   
• An evaluation of a multifaceted training program to build NITAG capacity for making evidence-based immunization policy