Head of WHO’s vaccines advisory group defends its policy on competing interests

The chief who oversees the World Health Organization’s top advisory group on global vaccines has defended the oversight mechanism that guards against potential conflicts of interest among its members.

Philippe Duclos, executive secretary of the 15 member Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE), said at a press briefing in Geneva that the group strove to ensure “very high standards” to protect against undue influence, whatever the origin.

In recent weeks WHO has been criticised by expert bodies, including the Council of Europe, over allegations that the threat of an H1N1 flu pandemic may have been hyped up as a result of undue influence by the drug industry.

WHO has …