Table 1 Israel’s NITAG meetings for the years 2010–2019 – Recommendations accepted
From: The National Immunization Technical Advisory Group in Israel
Year | Main issues discussed by NITAG | Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
2010 | Rubella vaccination program evaluation | No change in the program |
Priorities in adding new vaccines to the routine vaccination program | 1st priority: Influenza vaccination of young children < age 5 years. Accepted 2011. 2nd: Tdap for women after delivery | |
2011 | Meningococcal Vaccines (international travel) | Preference for conjugated Meningococcal Vaccines |
Pneumococcal vaccination policy for infants | Continue the successful Pneumococcal vaccination program | |
Influenza vaccination policy | Recommending universal Influenza vaccination policy (aimed at all population groups aged 6 months and above). | |
Information on vaccines safety to the public | How to present information on vaccines safety to the public? Recommended: use international publications by WHO, CDC, ECDC etc. | |
Herpes Zoster vaccine | Recommended for persons 65 years old and above 2012 - Added to the national health basket in 50% discount | |
HPV vaccines: 4 valent vs. 2 valent | Preference for the 4 valent HPV vaccine. | |
Rota Virus vaccine | Introduction of Rota Virus vaccine into the national routine immunization schedule, 2011 | |
2012 | Use of PCV10 or PCV13 | Continue the PCV13 in the national childhood vaccination program |
Measles elimination strategies | Adopting the measles elimination committee recommendations for disease surveillance and for improving and sustaining the measles vaccination coverage | |
2013 | Polio vaccination policy | During the “silent” WPV1 event in Israel (isolation in sewage in southern Israel, mainly Arab Bedouin localities). Supporting the vaccination campaigns Adding 2 bOPV vaccine doses at ages 6, 18 months to the schedule. |
Tdap vaccine for pregnant women | Tdap vaccine recommendation accepted for women in the third trimester of pregnancy. Applied in 2015. | |
PCV 13 for use in adults | Recommended for adults in defined high-risk groups, Applied in 2016 | |
HPV vaccines – safety review | HPV vaccines safety review established before introduction into the routine immunization program in schools: 2013 – HPV vaccine for females 8th school grade | |
2014 | Polio elimination | Adopting the polio elimination committee recommendations for continuation of the polio virus environmental sewage sampling program and preparing an outbreak preparedness plan. Keeping the bOPV vaccine at 6 and 8 months in the routine schedule. |
2015 | HPV vaccination policy | Recommendation for a 2-dose HPV vaccination schedule 2015- females and males in the 8th school grade |
Rotavirus vaccination provision in neonatal units | Continue previous recommendation not to vaccinate infants while hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units (prolonged stay). | |
Priorities of introduction of new vaccines | Recommended: Meningococcal vaccines and Hepatitis A vaccines for high risk groups. Applied in 2016 | |
Influenza vaccination policy | Preference of LAIV use in children | |
2016 | Vaccination of the elderly - PCV | PCV not indicated to healthy persons 65+ years. |
Vaccination of the elderly - Herpes Zoster vaccine | Herpes Zoster vaccine inclusion recommended to the basket of services committee. Included 2017 with price reduction of 50% | |
Influenza vaccination policy | Vaccination of children in elementary schools. Program introduced in 2016–2017. Preference for 4 strains Influenza vaccines. (2019: 4 strains) | |
Pregnancy after MMR | Ratification of the recommendation indicating no need for interval between MMR vaccination and pregnancy. | |
2017 | Definition of immunity status against measles | Requiring written proof of measles vaccination status (except travelers). Validity of immunity based on ELISA antibodies tests |
2018 | MenB vaccination policy | Vaccination of high risk groups (included in the health basket 2020) |
Neonatal BCG vaccination policy in risk groups | Continue vaccination of neonates whose parents come from countries of high TB endemicity | |
National measles outbreak - Mandatory vaccinations | Mandatory vaccinations and providing proof of vaccination before school entry were not recommended. In hyperendemic areas, unvaccinated children were banned from affected schools and kindergartens. | |
National measles outbreak - vaccination in schools | Prioritization of measles vaccine over HPV and influenza vaccines. Applied 2018–2019 | |
2019 | Influenza vaccines | 3 or 4 strains, adjuvanted vaccines. NITAG recommended 4 strains. |
Prioritizing Vaccinations to the national health basket | MMR vaccine for the adult population, Updating schools’ HPV vaccine program (9 valent replaced 4 valent), MenB vaccine for high risk groups. Included in the health basket 2020 |