[Consolidated recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Vaccines and Immunization Strategies- on prioritizing COVID-19 vaccination]. / Consolidado de recomendaciones del Comité Asesor de Vacunas y Estrategias de Inmunización-CAVEI, sobre priorización de vacunación COVID-19.

COVID-19 is a global public health issue due to its epidemic nature that, to date, lacks pharmacological treatment. However, some COVID-19 vaccines have been authorized for emergency use, although the duration of their protection, their ability to interrupt viral transmission, and their efficacy against emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2 are being studied. Chile's SARS-CoV-2 vaccination campaign required design and planning, like any other campaign. This process included the prioritization of risk groups for vaccination given the limited supply of COVID-19 vaccines globally. Throughout 2020, CAVEI issued recommendations on the prioritization of population groups to be vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 in response to different needs and in accordance with available evidence. These recommendations are consolidated in Table 1 in this report. In summary, it was recommended that healthcare workers, people in long-term residences and essential State personnel be vaccinated in phase 1. In phase 2, persons over 65 years of age and people with comorbidities. In phase 3, essential tasks workers and, lastly, the general population.

Consolidado de recomendaciones del Comité Asesor de Vacunas y Estrategias de Inmunización-CAVEI, sobre priorización de vacunación COVID-19 / Consolidated recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Vaccines and Immunization Strategies- on prioritizing COVID-19 vaccination

Resumen El COVID-19 es un problema de salud pública mundial por su carácter epidémico que, a la fecha, carece de tratamiento farmacológico. Sin embargo, ya se cuenta con algunas vacunas autorizadas para uso en emergencia, aunque la duración de su protección, su capacidad para interrumpir la transmisión viral y su eficacia frente a variantes emergentes de SARS-CoV-2 se encuentran en estudio. La campaña de vacunación contra SARS-CoV-2 de Chile requirió de diseño y planificación, como toda campaña. Parte de estos fue la priorización de grupos objetivo de vacunar, necesaria debido a que el mundo se vería enfrentado a un suministro limitado de vacunas COVID-19. En distintos momentos del año 2020, el CAVEI emitió recomendaciones sobre priorización de grupos de población a vacunar contra SARS-CoV-2, respondiendo a diferentes necesidades y según la evidencia disponible en cada instancia. Éstas se consolidan en la Tabla 1 de este informe. Resumidamente, en fase 1 se recomendó vacunar al personal de salud, residencias de larga estadía y personal crítico del Estado. En fase 2, a personas mayores de 65 años y población con comorbilidades. En fase 3, a personas que cumplen labores esenciales y, finalmente, a la población general.

Abstract COVID-19 is a global public health issue due to its epidemic nature that, to date, lacks pharmacological treatment. However, some COVID-19 vaccines have been authorized for emergency use, although the duration of their protection, their ability to interrupt viral transmission, and their efficacy against emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2 are being studied. Chile's SARS-CoV-2 vaccination campaign required design and planning, like any other campaign. This process included the prioritization of risk groups for vaccination given the limited supply of COVID-19 vaccines globally. Throughout 2020, CAVEI issued recommendations on the prioritization of population groups to be vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 in response to different needs and in accordance with available evidence. These recommendations are consolidated in Table 1 in this report. In summary, it was recommended that healthcare workers, people in long-term residences and essential State personnel be vaccinated in phase 1. In phase 2, persons over 65 years of age and people with comorbidities. In phase 3, essential tasks workers and, lastly, the general population.

Chile's National Advisory Committee on Immunization (CAVEI): Evidence-based recommendations for public policy decision-making on vaccines and immunization.

A National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) provides independent, evidence-based recommendations to the Ministry of Health for immunization programmes and policy formulation. In this article, we describe the structure, functioning and work processes of Chile's NITAG (CAVEI) and assess its functionality, quality of work processes and outputs, and integration of the committee into the Ministry of Health policy process using the Assessment tool for National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups. Among its strengths, CAVEI's administrative and work plasticity allows it to respond in a timely manner to the Ministry of Health's requests and proactively raise subjects for review. Representation of multiple areas of expertise within the committee makes CAVEI a robust and balanced entity for the development of evidence-based comprehensive recommendations. High ranking profile of the Secretariat structure furthers CAVEI's competences in policymaking and serves as a bridge between the committee and international initiatives in the field of immunizations.