Welcome Address from IPAP Steering Committee Chair

It is an honour to invite you to the 8th Asian Vaccine Conference (ASVAC 2022) to be held on 15 – 18 September 2022 virtually globally and in-person in Sri Lanka.

Since the first conference in Siem Reap, Cambodia in 2009, IPAP’s biennial “Asian Vaccine Conferences” have drawn strong interest from a broad range of stakeholders involved in vaccines and immunization. In Myanmar in 2019, a very successful EPI managers meeting was held prior to main ASVAC conference and was supported by our speakers participating in the main conference. Then on the day before the main 2 day conference, ASVAC hosts partner workshops and its very popular “Masterclass” which provides concise updates on vaccinology to conference participants and local practitioners.

ASVAC is now one of the best recognised conferences on vaccinology in the Asia Pacific region and our philosophy of working with our many partners has made it possible to provide you with an excellent and succinct scientific programme. ASVAC 2022 will be a single and double track event with 5 plenary lectures, 2 panel discussions and 6 partner-supported symposia with industry partners providing lunch and evening symposia.

The theme of ASVAC 2022 is “Immunization in the Era of Pandemics”. COVID-19 has created a global awareness of the potential and importance of vaccines, and there was a race to produce safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines within the shortest possible time. Who got these vaccines first and has their distribution been equitable? The COVID-19 pandemic has also spurred anti-vaccine groups to propose narratives aimed at undermining vaccines and immunization programmes. The pandemic has also had a negative impact on existing immunization programmes and a resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases has become a real risk. ASVAC 2022 will address these opportunities and challenges through a dedicated scientific programme with distinguished speakers, theme-focused partner symposia and knowledge-sharing opportunities. We very much look forward to your continued support and we hope to have your participation in ASVAC 2022

Prof Tony Nelson
Chair
IPAP Steering Committee