Vaccine course held amid threat of possible pandemic flu Sixth annual event draws 90 experts from 28 countries The International Vaccine Institute held ‘the sixth International Advanced Course on Vaccinology in Asia Pacific Regions’ at its headquarters in Seoul from May 15 to 20. The annual training program, designed to help developing countries expand their capacity in vaccine development, production and introduction, brought together approximately 90 public health professionals from 28 countries. 20 among them were the world leading vaccine experts serving as course faculty, including IVI Director General Dr. John Clemens, and Prof. Ian Gust, emeritus professor of the University of Melbourne. This year’s course came amid the lingering threat of a potential flu pandemic, with the deadly H5N1 strain of avian flu having spread from Asia to the Middle East, Europe and Africa. In view of this situation, the course sought to help public health experts in developing countries in the region better prepare against potential epidemics caused by emerging viruses. Notably, Prof. Gust, a world authority in virology, delivered a closing keynote lecture on Saturday, entitled, “The Future of Vaccines and Vaccination with Special Emphasis on Avian Flu and Other Pandemics”. The weeklong course focused on the needs of scientists, public health officials and decision-makers involved in vaccine development and vaccination policies at the national and international levels. The course addressed a wide variety of disciplines, encompassing the entire vaccine continuum from discovery in the laboratory to vaccine evaluation, regulatory issues, production, introduction strategies and financing mechanisms. As an example, Dr. Friede from the WHO Initiative for Vaccine Research discussed the latest antigen and vaccine delivery systems. Other presenters provided updates on the development of vaccines against malaria and dengue fever, for which no licensed vaccines yet exist. Also covered this year were several key topics in the field of vaccines, including the regulatory environment in the Asia-Pacific regions, public perception towards vaccines, communication strategies, and decision-making processes for introducing new vaccines at the country level. The course was designed as a series of lectures, case studies, and round-table discussions to encourage active interaction between course participants and faculty. The annual event was hosted by the IVI, which is a member of WHO’s Global Training Network for Vaccine Production and Regulation. It was jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development of Korea, GlaxoSmithKline, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.