• Sponsored by EuBiologics, the Forum brings together over 170 leaders and experts from government, industry, academia, the diplomatic community, and international organizations
• The event highlights end-to-end approaches to closing critical gaps in vaccine R&D, regulation, and equitable access in LMICs, alongside the growing importance of immunization for aging populations in Asia-Pacific

SEOUL, Republic of Korea, 26 June 2026 —The International Vaccine Institute (IVI), in collaboration with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) and the RIGHT Foundation, hosted the 2026 Global Vaccine Forum on 25 June in Seoul, Republic of Korea. The seventh edition of the annual Forum was supported by EuBiologics, a Korea–based vaccine manufacturer focused on global health, and the RIGHT Foundation, which joined as a co-host for the first time.

Held under the theme “Strategic Partnerships for Next-Generation Vaccines: Bridging Gaps in R&D, Regulation, and Global Access,” the Forum convened more than 170 global leaders and experts from government, academia, industry, the diplomatic community, and international organizations to strengthen collaboration across the vaccine ecosystem.

Dr. Seung-kwan Lim, Commissioner of KDCA; Dr. Jerome H. Kim, Director General of IVI; and Dr. Minwon Lee, Executive Director of the RIGHT Foundation, delivered opening remarks, calling for stronger collaboration to advance global vaccine development and access. The Forum also brought together representatives from organizations including Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; Africa CDC; the Asian Development Bank; the Korea National Institute of Health under KDCA; the National Vaccine Institute of Thailand; and the Japan Institute for Health Security, contributing to cross-sector dialogue on vaccine development, procurement, financing, and implementation.

Dr. Jerome H. Kim, Director General of IVI, said, “The 2026 Global Vaccine Forum provided a unique platform to advance practical strategies that strengthen global vaccine partnerships, accelerate innovation, and support policy solutions for equitable access worldwide. The Forum addressed two pressing priorities—improving access for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and advancing immunization for aging populations.”

The Plenary Opening Lectures and Panel Discussion examined the need to accelerate end-to-end pathways from vaccine research and development to global access, as well as efforts by the RIGHT Foundation and IVI, including the ACHIEVE Africa and BRIGHT Fund initiatives. Discussions highlighted the importance of aligning regulatory systems, financing mechanisms, and procurement pathways to ensure timely and equitable access to new and underutilized vaccines, particularly in LMICs. Speakers also emphasized the role of coordinated policy frameworks, regional manufacturing capacity, and global partnerships in translating innovation into real-world impact.

Session I focused on advances and challenges in global vaccine R&D for LMICs. Presentations highlighted innovative delivery technologies such as microneedle array patches; regional manufacturing partnerships, as exemplified by Korea–Africa collaboration; and the development of vaccines targeting group A Streptococcus as a priority pathogen. Ms. An Vermeersch, Chief Vaccine Programmes and Markets Officer of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, underscored the importance of sustained R&D investment and partnerships in advancing global immunization and expanding access in lower-income countries, while highlighting Gavi’s efforts to accelerate access through its Vaccine Investment Strategy and diversified, affordable vaccine supply.

Session II addressed the growing global challenge of adult and aging immunization, with a focus on policy, financing, and innovation in the Asia-Pacific region through talks by leading experts from Korea, Japan, and Thailand. As populations age rapidly, the session underscored the need to strengthen national immunization strategies, expand life-course vaccination, and address persistent barriers, including limited financing and low adult vaccine uptake. Regional cooperation and cross-border knowledge sharing were highlighted as essential to ensuring equitable and sustainable access for older populations.

Vaccination remains a critical tool in reducing disease burden, severe illness, and long-term complications among older adults. Strengthening immunization across the life course—including improving access, raising public awareness, and enhancing health system capacity—is widely recognized as essential, particularly in aging societies. There is also increasing attention to the need for vaccines that are broader, longer-lasting, and better suited to aging immune systems, alongside continued advances in next-generation vaccine design. Together, these priorities are central to building more equitable, resilient, and sustainable immunization systems.

The Forum featured a closing keynote by Prof. Bali Pulendran, an internationally recognized expert in systems vaccinology at Stanford University, titled “Immunology at the Frontiers: Designing Next-Generation Vaccines for Global Equity and Aging Populations,” highlighting emerging scientific insights, key challenges, and future directions.

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About the International Vaccine Institute

The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) is an independent international organization originally established at the initiative of the United Nations Development Programme in 1997. Its mission is to discover, develop, and deliver safe, effective, and affordable vaccines—empowering vaccine equity, impact, and sustainability globally.

IVI’s current portfolio includes vaccines in multiple stages of pre-clinical and clinical development targeting infectious diseases that significantly impact low- and middle-income countries, including cholera, typhoid fever, chikungunya, shigellosis, salmonellosis, schistosomiasis, hepatitis E, HPV- and group A strep-related diseases, and COVID-19. IVI developed the world’s first low-cost oral cholera vaccine and a new-generation typhoid conjugate vaccine, both pre-qualified by the World Health Organization (WHO).

IVI is headquartered in Seoul, Republic of Korea with a Europe Regional Office in Sweden, an Africa Regional Office in Rwanda, a Country Office in Austria, and a Country and Project Office in Kenya. IVI additionally co-founded the Hong Kong Jockey Club Global Health Institute in Hong Kong and hosts Collaborating Centers in Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Ethiopia, Nepal, and Madagascar. 43 countries and the WHO are members of IVI, and the governments of the Republic of Korea, Sweden, India, Finland, Austria, and Thailand provide state funding. For more information, please visit https://www.ivi.int.