Immunization and vaccines related implementation research advisory committee (IVIR-AC)
IVIR-AC is tasked with reviewing vaccine related quantitative methods and implementation research, and to advise the Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals (IVB) on their relevance and applicability.
Membership
- IVIR-AC shall have up to 15 members[1], who shall serve in their personal capacities to represent the broad range of disciplines relevant to:
- Mathematical modelling/quantitative methods in vaccine research;
- Economic analysis of vaccine development, planning and/or implementation;
- Methodologic approaches to vaccine performance and impact;
- Value estimation of vaccines (pricing, procurement, needs estimation and/or regulation of medicines);
- Health systems and programme delivery.
- In the selection of the IVIR-AC members, consideration shall be given to attaining an adequate distribution of technical expertise, geographical representation and gender balance.
- Members of the IVIR-AC, including the Chairperson, shall be selected and appointed by WHO and is by default delegated from ADG to the Director of Department of Immunization, Vaccines, and Biologicals following an open call for experts. The Chairperson's functions include the following:
- to chair the meeting of the IVIR-AC;
- to liaise with the WHO Secretariat between meetings.
In appointing a Chairperson, consideration shall be given to gender and geographical representation.
- Members of the IVIR-AC shall be appointed to serve for a period of 2 years and shall be eligible for reappointment for another three years. A Chairperson is eligible for reappointment as a member of the IVIR-AC. Their appointment and/or designation as Chairperson may be terminated at any time by WHO if WHO's interest so requires or, as otherwise specified in these terms of reference or letters of appointment. Where a member’s appointment is terminated, WHO may decide to appoint a replacement member.
- IVIR-AC members must respect the impartiality and independence required of WHO. In performing their work, members may not seek or accept instructions from any Government or from any authority external to the Organization. They must be free of any real, potential or apparent conflicts of interest. To this end, proposed members/members shall be required to complete a declaration of interests form and their appointment, or continuation of their appointment, shall be subject to the evaluation of completed forms by the WHO Secretariat, determining that their participation would not give rise to a real, potential or apparent conflict of interest.
- Following a determination that a proposed member’s participation in the IVIR-AC would not give rise to a real, potential or apparent conflict of interest, the proposed member will be sent a letter inviting them to be a member of the IVIR-AC. Their appointment to the AG is subject to WHO receiving the countersigned invitation letter and letter of agreement. Notwithstanding the requirement to complete the WHO declaration of interest form, IVIR-AC members have an ongoing obligation to inform the WHO of any interests real or perceived that may give raise to a real, potential or apparent conflict of interest.
- As contemplated in paragraph II.4 above, WHO may, from time to time, request IVIR-AC members to complete a new declaration of interest form. This may be before an IVIR-AC meeting or any other IVIR-AC -related activity or engagement, as decided by WHO. Where WHO has made such a request, the IVIR-AC member’s participation in the IVIR-AC activity or engagement is subject to a determination that their participation would not give rise to a real, potential or apparent conflict of interest.
- Where an IVIR-AC member is invited by WHO to travel to an in-person IVIR-AC meeting, WHO shall, subject to any conflict of interest determination as set out in paragraph II.6 above, issue a letter of appointment as a temporary adviser and accompanying memorandum of agreement (together ‘Temporary Adviser Letter). WHO shall not authorize travel by an IVIR-AC member, until it receives a countersigned Temporary Adviser Letter.
- IVIR-AC members do not receive any remuneration from the Organization for any work related to the AG. However, when attending in-person meetings at the invitation of WHO, their travel cost and per diem shall be covered by WHO in accordance with the applicable WHO rules and policies.
- Under emergency situations: ad-hoc reviews in between IVIR-AC meetings with selected IVIR-AC experts are possible to facilitate the speed and quality of work at short notice.[LP1]
[1] Members serve as full participants and partake in the decision-making process of the meeting in which they are involved.