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VIRTUAL EVENT: Vaccination: can we learn from the past to inform the future?
14 October 2020, 4:30 pm–5:30 pm
Helen Bedford, Professor of Children's Health at UCL and immunisation expert for the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, will explore the use of vaccination programmes to control infectious diseases.
This event is free.
Event Information
Open to
- All
Availability
- Yes
Cost
- Free
Organiser
-
Faculty of Population Health Sciences
Lecturer's abstract
Vaccination is a highly effective public health intervention estimated to prevent 2-3 million deaths globally every year. Despite this success, opposition to the practice dates back over 200 years to the advent of widespread vaccination to prevent smallpox.
Recently, concern about declines in vaccine uptake with the resultant resurgence of disease, notably measles, has attracted much attention and it has been suggested is a direct result of the impact of the anti-vaccine movement. This issue will be explored along with solutions to maximise vaccine uptake.
In the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, where vaccination appears to be the only realistic solution to controlling coronavirus, what lessons can we take from past experience and what are the unique challenges and questions that need addressing to ensure a successful COVID-19 vaccination programme?
Join our Q&A
This lecture will be followed by a Q&A. You can submit your questions to us ahead of the event by emailing fphs.pa@ucl.ac.uk or on Twitter @UCLPopHealthSci using the hashtag #UCLPopHealthEvents.
About the Speaker
Professor Helen Bedford
Professor Helen Bedford is Professor of Children's Health at the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health. She has extensive experience as a researcher and educator in the field of childhood immunisation. Her particular focus is the determinants of vaccine uptake and attitudes and knowledge of health professionals and the public to established vaccines, new uses for established vaccines and of proposed vaccines. She has published widely in scientific journals as well as publications for the public and communicates with the media on vaccine issues. Helen participates in immunisation training for front line health professionals and is the immunisation lead for the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.
More about Professor Helen Bedford