title: The National Committee for Vaccines Regulation and Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in the Sultanate of Oman: evidence-based approach and consensus decision-making.
abstract: The National Committee for Vaccines Regulation and Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases serves as the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) in the Sultanate of Oman. It is the only advisory body to assist the Government in establishing policies and strategies and in evaluating new vaccines with respect to technology, quality and safety. It has six to eight core members as well ex officio members. Committee members are appointed for a period of 3 years by the Minister of Health and committee members declare their potential conflicts of interests and sign a confidentiality agreement. The cost of vaccines and the overall immunization program are considered when the committee makes its recommendations. Evidence-based decision-making could be facilitated by introducing more economic expertise to the committee.
authors.affiliation: Department of Communicable Disease Surveillance and Control, Ministry of Health, PO Box 393, PC 100, Al Khuwair, Oman. salah.awaidy@gmail.com
authors.forename: Salah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al Awaidy
mesh_terms: D026683:Advisory Committees / Q000458:organization & administration*; D032802:Committee Membership; D003657:Decision Making; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006291:Health Policy; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000191:economics; D033181:Information Dissemination; D009850:Oman; D014612:Vaccines / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D014612:Vaccines