Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (IPAC)
What is IPAC?
The Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (IPAC), established in 2010, supports and advises the Director of the Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals (IVB), with the review and/or formulation of immunization practices, operational standards, tools and technologies to strengthen and improve the delivery of immunization programmes at the country level in order to realize the Global Immunization Vision and Strategies (GIVS) goals.
The GIVS will play a key role in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), reducing child mortality, improving maternal health and combating disease. Countries will benefit from the development of innovative strategies and guidelines to address challenges and barriers to immunization access and service delivery.
Specific functions
The role of the IPAC is to provide advice and recommendations to the Director IVB, on three main interconnected areas:
- Innovation and Strategy
- Operations
- Tools and technologies
IPAC has no executive, regulatory or decision-making function.
IPAC members
We believe that, with the knowledge and skills that are contained in this group, IPAC will play a dynamic and positive role in advising and supporting WHO/IVB in strengthening and improving immunization programmes at country level.
- Chair: Shelley DEEKS – Medical Director Immunization, Public Health Ontario
- Robin BIELLIK – Medical Epidemiologist currently based in Switzerland
- Xavier BOSCH-CAPBLANCH – Medical doctor – Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute
- Jon COLTON - Professor of Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA
- Francois GASSE – Private Consultant, France
- Najwa KHURI-BULOS – Adjunct Professor – Vanderbilt University, Nashville, and Professor of Paediatrics and Infectious Disease, Jordan University Medical School and Hospital, Amman
- Folake KIO-OLAYINKA – Maternal Child Health Programme Manager – USAID, Abuja, Nigeria
- Sanath LAMABADUSURIYA – Emeritus Professor of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine – University of Colombo
- Chris MORGAN, Principal (Immunization, Vaccines and Immunity), Centre for International Health, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Jean-Marc OLIVE - Private Consultant, France
- Jane SOEPARDI – Head of Center for Data and Epidemiological Surveillance, Ministry of Health, Republic of Indonesia
- Robert STEINGLASS – Immunization Team Leader, Maternal & Child Health Integrated Program, and Project Director, Africa Routine Immunization System Essentials – John Snow Inc, Virginia
Five organizations have been requested to take part as observers during IPAC meetings. Observers take part in all aspects of IPAC, but will not have voting or recommending rights. These organizations will be represented by the following persons:
- UNICEF: Osman Mansoor - New Vaccines Officer
- CDC: Vance DIETZ – Chief, Strengthening Immunization Systems Branch
- PATH: Debbie KRISTENSEN – Group Leader, Vaccine Technologies
- IFPMA: Thierry GASTINEAU – Site Head Regulatory Affairs / Global Regulatory Affairs Leader
- DCVMN: Reinaldo DE MENEZES MARTINS – Scientific Consultant, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Bio Manguinhos
IPAC documents
Vaccine Presentation and Packaging Advisory Group (VPPAG)
VPPAG provides a forum for public sector and vaccine manufacturers to discuss and reach consensus on vaccine presentation and packaging issues to support the development of products suited to low and middle income country contexts.
For more information on IPAC, please contact:
IPAC Secretariat
World Health Organization (WHO)
Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals (IVB)
20 Avenue Appia
CH-1211 Geneva 27
E-mail: ipacgroup@who.int