ADVANCED COURSE OF VACCINOLOGY
Course objectives
General objectives
The Course aims to facilitate critical decision-making in vaccinology by providing participants with a comprehensive overview of the various aspects of vaccinology (immunology, vaccine development, clinical trials, regulatory processes, vaccine-specific issues including new vaccines, vaccination strategies and policies, programme implementation, humanitarian emergencies, social, economic, political and ethical issues, financing, and communications…).
By the end of the course, participants should be able to:
1. Use rational criteria for decisions related to evidence-based introduction of new vaccines into immunization programs;
2. Identify requirements for vaccination strategies to be used in special conditions: eradication strategies, vaccination of neonates, elderly, immunocompromised and HIV infected persons;
3. Deal with issues regarding vaccine trials (including site selection, recruitment aspects, monitoring, evaluation and ethical considerations);
4. Identify recent developments towards new or improved vaccines and new vaccination strategies;
5. Appraise all aspects of vaccines and vaccination safety, including vaccine delivery and reporting of adverse events following immunization;
6. Initiate appropriate actions in crises associated with real or alleged vaccine adverse events;
7. Recognize the role of communication in vaccine program and policy;
8. Determine any necessary important change to their practice of vaccinology.
With its 360° vision of vaccinology, the ADVAC program describes the approaches required for the translation of scientific and epidemiological evidence into effective policy development related to vaccines and immunization.
ADVAC aims to expand the scientific foundation of the participants and their knowledge in vaccinology areas outside of their current expertise, showing the multifaceted aspects of vaccinology, allowing them to explore novel technologies and think more globally and holistically, and providing them with a unique skill set to develop their leadership in vaccinology.
Participants should not expect to become a subject matter expert after getting one lecture on this topic. They should consider the lecture to be about the basis of the topic and would need to deep-dive in the speaker-recommended material to learn more about the topic.
ADVAC represents a unique networking opportunity where participants can form valuable and sustainable professional relationships and serves as a platform where problems to professional challenges can be shared, and solutions identified.
By learning from, and alongside, other ADVAC students from other fields and organizations,
ADVAC is uniquely oriented to help advance the field of vaccinology by sharing practical insights focused on implementation at a basic science level and on a public health scale. It brings together some of the leading experts in vaccinology and motivated students in a favourable environment, making it an excellent incubator for the development of concepts.