Round Table #3
Using Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPD) Surveillance Networks to Strengthen Preparedness
No invitations necessary; open to all conference registrants
Tuesday, 6 December 2016
17:00-18:30
CTICC room location: 2.4
ROUND TABLE OVERVIEW:
Recent outbreaks such as the Ebola epidemic in West Africa and the Yellow fever outbreak in Southern Africa have highlighted the need for strong surveillance networks to combat epidemic prone diseases. Vaccine-preventable disease (VPD) surveillance networks are an important resource to strengthen preparedness, build collaborations and sustain capacity development. This is brought about through improved laboratory infrastructure, promotion of interaction between laboratorians and epidemiologists and fostering and sustaining working relationships within and between countries. In this session we will describe how vaccine-preventable disease surveillance networks have been used in the past to strengthen preparedness and propose how these networks can be further strengthened in future to enhance preparedness. We will present different perspectives including those from a global, regional and national perspective. A range of diseases will be discussed including polio, measles, pneumococcus, meningococcus, influenza and yellow fever.
ROUND TABLE CO-CONVENERS:
- Miguel Mulders , World Health Organization, Switzerland
- Cheryl Cohen, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, South Africa
ROUND TABLE PRESENTATIONS:
Session Introduction and Role of the Global Laboratory Network
Miguel Mulders, World Health Organization, Switzerland
Integration of Laboratory and Epidemiology for Preparedness
Cheryl Cohen, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, South Africa
The New Vaccines Surveillance Network, Global and Regional Perspectives
Fatima Serhan, World Health Organization, Switzerland
The Role of the National Laboratory in VPD surveillance
David Opare, Ghana College of Physicians, Ghana
The Epidemiology of Yellow Fever Infection in Africa and a Proposal for Virus Containment
Bridget Nanteza, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Uganda