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Ep. 1: Shaping the Future of Global Next-Generation Influenza Vaccine Research

In the first episode of the Flu Vaccine Forum, experts Rosalind Hollingsworth, Eric Karikari-Boateng, Chris Chadwick, William Ampofo and Tiago Rocca speak live from the Influenzer Initiative’s special event at the Titanic Museum in September 2022.

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Flu Vaccine Forum Episode 1 Livestream

In the first episode of the Flu Vaccine Forum, a webinar and podcast series presented by the Influenzer Initiative, CIDRAP’s Influenza Vaccine R&D Roadmap Initiative and the Global Flu Funders Consortium, experts speak live from the Influenzer Initiative’s special event at the Titanic Museum in September 2022.

Discussing vaccine equity, sustainable investment in influenza vaccine production in lower- and middle-income countries, the potential for future mRNA vaccines and more, the panel speaks to the need for partnerships and collaboration. Featured panelists included:

  • Christopher Chadwick, Technical Officer, Influenza Preparedness and Response, WHO
  • Rosalind Hollingsworth, Senior Program Officer, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
  • Eric Karikari-Boateng , Director for the Centre for Laboratory Services and Research, Ghana FDA
  • Tiago Rocca, Strategic Partnerships and Business Development Lead, Instituto Butantan, Brazil
  • William K. Ampofo, Professor and Head of the Virology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.

A main topic of the episode explores how restricting global vaccine production to high-income countries had a detrimental impact on vaccine equity in the past. Our panel of experts suggest vaccine equity can be achieved through sustainable investment in influenza vaccine production outside of high-income countries with reliance on disease burden, surveillance and demand generation. They also highlight how the success of mRNA influenza vaccines could impact vaccine production in various countries and could potentially increase vaccine equity.

Partnerships and collaborations are key to increase vaccine production and distribution. Ampofo and Rocca, experts on vaccine production and demand from Ghana and Brazil, respectively, discussed how partnerships with various stakeholders and legislation in both countries helped build a vaccine roadmap that ensured sustainable production and distribution. Panelists Karikari-Boateng, Hollingsworth and Ampofo spoke to the need for retaining talent and investing in personnel and vaccine technology in low- and middle-income countries to support vaccine production and distribution. Chadwick and Karikari-Boateng also highlighted more investment in vaccine acceptance and demand studies to discern vaccine hesitancy across various communities.

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