This meeting will highlight evidence and information that National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs) need to develop appropriate recommendations for HepB birth dose introduction. NITAG or EPI representatives from countries in AFRO that have implemented a birth dose of HepB vaccine will present how they made their recommendations. A preliminary toolkit resource packet has been developed in advance and will be presented during this meeting.

Program

• Welcome & introductions- Dr. John Ward, Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination
• Recap of meeting 2 and objectives for meeting 3- Dr. Henry Njuguna, Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination
• The role of NITAG in the introduction of new vaccines- Dr. Abigail Shefer, CDC GID
•  AFRO NITAG overview- Dr. Sidy Ndiaye, WHO/AFRO
• The NITAG hepatitis B birth dose process in Senegal- Prof. Anta Tal Dia
• The NITAG hepatitis B birth dose process in Zimbabwe- Dr. N.A. Gonah
• Panel Discussion NITAG experiences with decision making in introduction of hepatitis B birth dose in:
  • Burkina Faso (Dr. Jean Kabore)
  • Cote d’Ivoire (Prof. Tiembre Issaka)
  • Ghana (Prof. George Armah)
  • South Africa (Prof. Rose Burnett/Dr. Melinda Suchard)
• NITAG toolkit for decision making in introduction of HepB-BD-  Dr. Henry Njuguna
  • Evidence to recommendation framework process o Formulating PICO question 
  • Literature synthesis highlights on hepatitis B birth dose vaccine
• Q&A/Discussion
• Next meeting: Next steps- Dr. Henry Njuguna