Welcome to our sixth issue of Vaccines Beat. We are excited to continue our mission of communicating, educating, and promoting knowledge in the fields of vaccinology and vaccination.
In our ‘Coffee with an Expert’ section, we are deeply honored to feature an interview with Doctor Ron Dagan, a worldwide distinguished Professor of Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Beer-Sheva, Israel. He is also a founding member of the World Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases (WSPID), and a Fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). He has gained international recognition for his pioneering research, which has primarily focused on vaccine-preventable diseases. His work has made significant contributions to several key areas, including: the development and impact of pneumococcal vaccines; understanding the epidemiology of hepatitis A and the introduction of hepatitis A vaccines; the epidemiology of respiratory infections in children; clinical aspects of vaccination against antibiotic-resistant pneumococci; the pathology of otitis media, including the role of resistant organisms and the prediction of bacteriological responses to various antibiotics; and the epidemiology and prevention of enteric and invasive infections in young children.
The ‘Editor’s Corner’ section is entitled as “Vaccination: A Story of Success and Ongoing Challenges, 50 Years After the Launch of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI)”. In this section we summarize the history, as well as achievements, organizations, acts, and contributors that have saved more than 154 million lives, but also emphasize the need for increasing efforts from all parties, since, despite significant achievements, there is still much to be done. In our view, scientific leaders must collaborate with their counterparts in the financial and political sectors. Without this partnership, the substantial disparities in vaccine access and implementation will persist, preventing a net global meaningful progress. First and foremost, there is no comparison between the investment in war and weapons and the investment in preventive medicine.
The ‘Best Practice’ section highlights the September 2024 meeting of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization. In commemoration of 50 years since the launch of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), SAGE presented key conclusions and recommendations centered on the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030). The meeting also provided updated guidance on vaccines for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Poliomyelitis, Rubella (including Congenital Rubella Syndrome), Mpox, COVID-19, and Avian Influenza.
In the ‘Guest Contributor’ section, we are honored to feature Dr. Alfonso Rodriguez-Morales, a globally renowned expert in Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology. As the current President of the Latin American Society of Travel Medicine, Dr. Rodriguez-Morales provides a masterful exploration of traveler vaccines in Latin America, thoughtfully dividing the topic into key areas for comprehensive understanding; the Risk Landscape in Latin America; Why Vaccines Are Essential for Travelers? Key Vaccines for Travelers to Latin America; Public Health Implications, and Conclusions.
As always, this issue features carefully curated and up-to-date information on the ‘Latest Scientific Publications’ along with the most recent and important ‘News and Alerts’.
We hope you find this December issue informative and engaging, and we look forward to continuing this unique effort in support of a healthier planet, not to mention our heartfelt best wishes for the year ahead in 2025.
