International Vaccine Technology Workshop (September 17-18, 2010 – Hyderabad, India)

Overview

“The World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Department of Health, and Human Services (HHS) and other like-minded organizations and governments are committed to assisting in the creation of regionally-based, independent and sustainable vaccine production capacity in developing and emerging economy countries through capacity building and technology transfer.  As a means of initiating a coordinated discussion among the international community regarding this shared goal, WHO and HHS convened the Sustainable Influenza Vaccine Production Capacity Stakeholders’ Workshop in Washington D.C. in January 2010.  Workshop participants identified partnership models, production technologies, and opportunities for technology transfer as some of the elements critical to successful building of sustainable vaccine production capacity worldwide.

“Building upon the Stakeholders’ Workshop, WHO and HHS are hosting the International Vaccine Technology Workshop.  This follow-up workshop will have a technology focus and will differ from the Stakeholders’ Workshop in that it will expand the scope beyond influenza and enable participants to survey and evaluate a broader range of technologies used to develop and manufacture vaccines.  The workshop will bring together policymakers and technical experts to identify needs and gaps in vaccine development and manufacturing capacity; generate ideas for leveraging existing resources; discuss the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders; and delineate potential policy options for the short, medium, and long-term.  This workshop will serve to inform the refinement of the implementation plan for WHO’s Global Pandemic Influenza Action Plan to Increase Vaccine Supply (GAP).  The new implementation plan will align a timeline to stakeholder roles and responsibilities, and will offer recommendations addressing the challenges inherent in creating sustainable influenza vaccine production capacity worldwide.

“Workshop participants will include a broad range of stakeholders including representatives from multi-national corporations, biotech companies, developing country vaccine manufacturers, government agencies and ministries, international organizations, academic institutions, and non-governmental organizations.”

http://www.globalhealth.gov/topics/vaccineWorkshops/07122010.html