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Ministry of Public Health Hosts International Vaccine Council Meeting
The Ministry of Public Health of Thailand hosted a meeting of the Council of the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) on September 23, 2024, at Montien Surawong Hotel, Bangkok. Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, presided over the meeting as the first president of the council.
IVI Global Council 2024 Meeting
The meeting was attended by Dr. Jerome Kim, Director General of the International Vaccine Organization, Mr. George Bickerstaff, Chairman of the IVI Board of Trustees, Mr. Anders Nordström, Chairman of the Global Advisory Group of IVI, and experts and representatives of 60 IVI member countries from 12 participating countries.
Dr. Opas stated that the meeting discussed IVI’s special report on Africa’s Vaccine Roadmap, addressing emerging health crises such as the resurgence of smallpox, the biggest outbreak of dengue fever, and the lack of cholera vaccines. The meeting also presented guidelines and strategies for vaccinating IVI member countries and managing health crises.
Strengthening Cooperation and Capacity Building
Dr. Opas emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation between countries and institutions to efficiently and successfully address global health challenges. He highlighted the need to build capacity for vaccine research and development in each region, especially in countries with limited resources, to create equal access to vaccines worldwide and strengthen health systems in developing countries.
About the International Vaccine Institute (IVI)
The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) is an international non-profit organization established in 1997 as an initiative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). IVI aims to develop and provide safe, effective, and affordable vaccines to control and prevent disease outbreaks and save human lives. IVI conducts clinical vaccine research and develops vaccines for infectious diseases affecting low-income countries, including cholera, typhoid fever, chikungunya fever, and COVID-19.