Following Iran’s endorsement of the Alma-Ata Declaration on Primary Health Care (PHC) in 1978, the Expanded Program of Immunization (EPI) was accepted as one of the main components of PHC and since 1984 chancellors of the Universities of Medical Science and Health Services were

given the responsibility for its implementation. Table 1 shows the history MG-132 order of immunization programmes including the introduction of new vaccines and immunization milestones and achievements. Table 2 shows the 2009 Iranian schedule of routine childhood immunization. The first immunization committee Fasudil manufacturer in Iran was established in 1982 prior to the initiation of EPI. This committee had the following members: • Under-secretary for Health Affairs, Ministry of Health. The NITAG has carried out the following activities: • Revising and updating the immunization schedule. The new members of the NITAG are nominated

by the Director, CCDC and approved by the Deputy Minister of Health. Members are recruited initially for a 3-year period, but there are no term limits. There are three ex-officio members representing the Pasteur Institute of Iran, the Razi Vaccine Research and Serum Production Institute and the CCDC. They can participate in discussions actively and may vote like other members to reach consensus. Non-government members do not receive any payment for serving on the immunization advisory group but membership is considered prestigious. The national EPI manager oversees all preparatory work for advisory group meetings. Based at the CCDC, MOHME, the Secretariat

– assisted by two experts from the EPI department – provides logistical support to the NITAG only including compilation of all requested scientific documents and materials for the meetings. The Secretariat conveys the NITAG’s recommendations to the MOHME and medical universities, while also conveying questions raised by the universities to the advisory group. NITAG meetings are held at the CCDC on a quarterly basis, with additional meetings as requested by the CCDC. In these meetings only members are allowed to participate, with the minutes disseminated to committee members. During 2008, five meetings were held. Vaccines and immunization are the only topics within the NITAG’s scope of work.