National Immunisation Advisory Committee
{{Short description|Irish health advisory body}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox government agency
| name = National Immunisation Advisory Committee
| logo =
| jurisdiction = Government of Ireland
| motto =
| budget =
| formed = {{Start date|1998}}
| employees =
| chief1_name = Siobhan O'Sullivan
| chief1_position = Chair
| parent_department = Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
| website = {{URL|https://www.rcpi.ie/policy-and-advocacy/national-immunisation-advisory-committee/}}
}}
The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) is an Irish advisory body that advises the Chief Medical Officer and Department of Health in the area of immunisation procedures and related matters.{{cite web|url=https://www.nitag-resource.org/media-center/document/423-college-by-law-in-regard-to-niac|access-date=6 September 2021|title=College By-law in regard to NIAC|website=nitag-resource.org}} NIAC was established within the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) in 1998.{{cite news |last1=Shannon |first1=June |title=Do we need to be concerned about taking a Covid-19 vaccine? |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/do-we-need-to-be-concerned-about-taking-a-covid-19-vaccine-1.4322869 |access-date=27 March 2021 |work=The Irish Times |date=11 August 2020 |language=en}} It comprises representatives from a broad range of medical and healthcare organisations with expertise in immunisation.
Purpose
According to its Term of Reference, the purposes of NIAC are as follows:
- To provide advice to the Department of Health on vaccines, immunisation and related health matters in the Irish context
- To develop and disseminate the National Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland
- To advocate for best immunisation practices
Membership
The members of NIAC is nominated by the organisations listed and approved by the President of the RCPI. Those nominated to NIAC will serve a four-year term and may only be re-elected to serve one additional term.{{cite web|url=https://rcpi-live-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/NIAC_Terms-of-Reference.pdf|title=Terms of Reference and Standard Operating Procedures RCPI National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC)|date=12 February 2021|access-date=6 September 2021}}
{{As of|2023}}, Dr Siobhan O'Sullivan serves as the Chair of NIAC.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rcpi.ie/Healthcare-Leadership/NIAC/About-NIAC/Who-We-Are|title = Who we are|access-date=2023-06-21|website=rcpi.ie|publisher=Royal College of Physicians of Ireland}}
=Voting membership=
Voting membership nominating organisations:
{{columns-list|
- Faculty of Occupational Medicine, RCPI
- Faculty of Paediatrics, RCPI
- Faculty of Pathology, RCPI
- Faculty of Public Health Medicine, RCPI
- Health Protection Surveillance Centre
- Infectious Disease Society of Ireland
- Institute of Medicine
- Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
- Irish College of General Practitioners
- Lay public representatives
- National Immunisation Office
- Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland
- Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
- Special Clinical Advisors
- Travel Medicine Society of Ireland
- National Virus Reference Laboratory
}}
=Additional Membership=
In addition to voting membership, NIAC memberships are also nominated from the following organisation. The additional members have access to NIAC meetings, papers and may contribute to NIAC discussion, but will not have voting rights in order to maintain NIAC's independence.
- Department of Health
- Health Service Executive
- Health Products Regulatory Authority
- Department of Health, Northern Ireland
- Medical Secretaries (Specialist Registrars in Public Health Medicine, Infectious Diseases or Paediatrics)
Meetings
NIAC will meet once every two months. However, the Chair of NIAC or President of the RCPI have the power to call an extraordinary meeting if required. A record of attendance is maintained at every meeting and minutes of meeting will be included in the NIAC annual report and publicly available. NIAC meetings requires the presence of at least 50% of the voting members plus one voting member during the entire meeting and for decision making purposes.
See also
- National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (the global concept)
- Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (United States)
- Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (United Kingdom)
- National Advisory Committee on Immunization (Canada)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.rcpi.ie/policy-and-advocacy/national-immunisation-advisory-committee/}}
- [https://www.rcpi.ie/policy-and-advocacy/national-immunisation-advisory-committee/who-we-are/ List of members]
- [https://www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/hcpinfo/guidelines/ Immunisation Guidelines]