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Review
. 2016 Jun 17;34(29):3342-9.
doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.05.018. Epub 2016 May 16.

Contributions and challenges for worldwide vaccine safety: The Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety at 15 years

Edwin J Asturias  1 , Melinda Wharton  2 , Robert Pless  3 , Noni E MacDonald  4 , Robert T Chen  5 , Nicholas Andrews  6 , David Salisbury  7 , Alexander N Dodoo  8 , Kenneth Hartigan-Go  9 , Patrick L F Zuber  10
Affiliations
Review

Contributions and challenges for worldwide vaccine safety: The Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety at 15 years

Edwin J Asturias et al. Vaccine. .

Abstract

In 1999, the Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS) was established by the World Health Organization (WHO) to provide independent scientific advice on issues relating to the safety of vaccines and immunization. Fifteen years onward, we conducted a multi-faceted review to evaluate the impact, reach and challenges facing GACVS, including the role GACVS plays in informing global, regional and WHO member state vaccine policy. The methods included measures of organizational structure, citation impact, themes approached, and a discussion by previous and current members to evaluate past, present and future challenges. Given the increasing range of data sources and the deployment of many new vaccines, the Committee is facing the complex task of identifying the best available evidence for recommendations on vaccine safety. To help meet the increased demand for public transparency in decision making, GACVS-structured methodology for evidence-based decisions is evolving. GACVS also promotes best practices and capacity building for timely and accurate risk assessment; risk communications; outreach to help countries maintain and, if needed, rebuild public trust in vaccines; and advocacy for bridging the major gaps in vaccine safety capacity globally.

Keywords: Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety; Global public health; Immunization program; Vaccine adverse events; Vaccine policy; Vaccine safety.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Total number of GACVS former and current members by region and country 1999–2014.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Number of publications in Medline related to the search term “vaccine” and “vaccine safety” per year 1960–2013.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Google Scholar© citation index of GACVS reports by quarter of the year published. Weekly Epidemiological Record 1999–2014. Note: Quarterly data for 2001 is not presented, as GACVS only held one meeting with a specific recommendation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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