June 25, 2024, SEOUL, Republic of Korea – The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) held a virtual Global Council meeting yesterday, bringing together IVI’s State Party delegates to announce the council’s first presidency and set the agenda for the face-to-face meeting this fall. The Global Council Secretariat nominated Dr. Opart Karnkawinpong, Permanent Secretary of Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health, to serve as the inaugural President of the IVI Global Council representing the Kingdom of Thailand.

Representing the Kingdom of Thailand, Dr. Opart Karnkawinpong, Permanent Secretary of Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health, will serve as the inaugural President of the Global Council for the period 2024-2025. Credit: Thai MOPH

Dr. Jerome Kim, Director General of IVI, said: “We are extremely pleased that Thailand has accepted the Global Council Secretariat’s nomination to assume the presidency. The Thai Ministry of Public Health has been an exemplary partner in advancing vaccine research and development as well as manufacturing, sustainable supply, and management for the ASEAN region. We are confident that Permanent Secretary Dr. Opart Karnkawinpong will guide productive discussions among IVI’s State Parties and provide our leadership with new insights and recommendations.”

Dr. Opart accepted the two-year appointment during the virtual meeting, noting Thailand’s pivotal role in advancing the ASEAN Vaccine Security and Self-Reliance (AVSSR) initiative. In his acceptance remarks, Dr. Opart said: “As we gather virtually today, we are reminded of the critical work that lies ahead. IVI has been at the forefront of developing and distributing life-saving vaccines to those most in need, demonstrating the power of innovation and collaboration. In a world where health challenges are increasingly complex, our united efforts are more crucial than ever. Realizing the responsibilities of the GC, I hope that our forum can provide good strategies and activities recommended to IVI, advancing the impactful development of vaccines for the global community.”

The second annual face-to-face Global Council meeting will take place 23-24 September 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand.

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About the International Vaccine Institute (IVI)
The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) is a non-profit international organization established in 1997 at the initiative of the United Nations Development Programme with a mission to discover, develop, and deliver safe, effective, and affordable vaccines for global health.

IVI’s current portfolio includes vaccines at all stages of pre-clinical and clinical development for infectious diseases that disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries, such as cholera, typhoid, chikungunya, shigella, salmonella, schistosomiasis, hepatitis E, HPV, COVID-19, and more. IVI developed the world’s first low-cost oral cholera vaccine, pre-qualified by the World Health Organization (WHO), and developed a new-generation typhoid conjugate vaccine that also achieved WHO prequalification in early 2024.

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 Ghana, Ethiopia, and Madagascar. 42 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.