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The European Advisory Group on the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EAG/EPI) was established in the early 1990s to facilitate the development of the Regional immunization programme. It effectively guided the Regional immunization programme, particularly in relation to the revision of immunization policies in the Newly Independent States, to control the epidemic of diphtheria and to eliminate poliomyelitis from the WHO European Region.

Since the late 1990s, many of the countries in the Region have undergone major health care reforms. To respond to such changes in systems and disease epidemiology, EAG’s terms of reference were revised and, the European Technical Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (ETAGE) was established in 2003. It provides independent review and expert technical input to WHO/Europe’s targeted diseases and immunizations team.

The goal of the ETAGE is to facilitate and accelerate achievements in relation to the eradication, elimination and control of infectious diseases in the Region.

In the future, ETAGE will work within the scope of the Global Immunization Vision and Strategies (GIVS). GIVS is a new strategy developed by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and WHO that provides direction for immunization programmes for the next 10 years. GIVS outlines unprecedented efforts to connect with hard-to-reach and vulnerable groups, using packages of interventions to achieve greater impact, including taking immunization beyond infants to other age groups.