The role of the China Experts Advisory Committee on Immunization Program

The Experts Advisory Committee on Immunization Program (EACIP) of China was founded in 1982, and currently consists of 33 experts in immunization and related fields, selected by the Ministry of Health, to provide advice and guidance on the control of vaccine-preventable diseases. The main tasks of the EACIP are to advise on the national immunization schedule, to participate in the drafting and review of technical documents, and to participate in field supervision and staff training. In 2007, the EACIP used evidence-based methods to formulate a revised national immunization schedule. The EACIP has played and is playing an increasingly important role in guiding immunization policy in China.