Guest Contributors

Event Overview: The 12th Congress of the Federation of African Immunological Societies (FAIS 2024) was held from December 10–13, 2024, at the Palais des Congrès in Cotonou, Benin. This was the first in-person FAIS meeting since 2017, disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The congress brought together 260 delegates, including scientists, policymakers, and researchers from across Africa and beyond, to address the theme: “Innovative Strategies Against Infectious Diseases and Emerging Immunological Disorders in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities.”

Latin America is renowned for its rich cultural heritage, breathtaking landscapes, and vibrant biodiversity. From the Amazon rainforest to the Andean mountains, historic cities, and pristine beaches, it offers travellers unparalleled experiences. However, with this diversity comes a range of health risks that travellers must be aware of. Vaccines play a critical role in safeguarding the health of travellers and the communities they visit. 

The COVID-19 pandemic illuminated the stark inequities in global vaccine distribution, especially for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). While wealthier nations secured early access to vaccines, many LMICs struggled to obtain enough doses, prolonging the pandemic and contributing to the rise of new variants. This disparity underscored the urgent need for more equitable vaccine access, especially in the context of global health security.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) vaccination prevents between 2 and 3 million deaths each year and, alongside clean drinking water, is one...

One of the most controversial business decisions for the healthcare industry is to establish equitable access to essential medicines and technology with a reasonable return on investment after spending a significant amount on failed vaccines, or any drug, before reaching a successful one. Pharmaceuticals set drug prices with the argument that it finances research and development (R&D) for better treatments or for the development of a vaccine. Even if this calculation is true, maximizing profits for shareholders might be a variable of influence at the expense of access to medicines and, arguably, beyond ethical standards.

Growing need for proactive measures Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi transmitted through infected Ixodes ticks, is the most prevalent vector-borne infectious disease in the...