Training Course on Vaccine Development and Global Distribution

Module 1 – Foundations of Vaccinology and Immunology
Subtopics:
History and impact of vaccines on public health.
Basics of immunology: innate vs. adaptive immunity, herd immunity.
Types of vaccines: live attenuated, inactivated, subunit, conjugate, mRNA, vector-based.
Adjuvants and delivery systems.
Emerging technologies in vaccine research.
Practical Activities:
Case Study: Eradication of smallpox and near-elimination of polio.
Group Exercise: Mapping how different vaccine types stimulate the immune system.

Module 2 – Vaccine Research, Development, and Clinical Trials
Subtopics:
Preclinical research and animal models.
Phases of clinical trials (I, II, III, IV).
Regulatory approval processes (FDA, EMA, WHO prequalification).
Ethical considerations in vaccine trials (informed consent, vulnerable groups).
Accelerated development pathways in emergencies (e.g., COVID-19).
Practical Activities:
Simulation: Designing a clinical trial protocol for a hypothetical vaccine.
Case Discussion: Ethical debates in human challenge trials.

Module 3 – Manufacturing, Quality Control, and Supply Chain
Subtopics:
Vaccine production processes: scale-up, formulation, and filling.
Quality control and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
Cold chain requirements and innovations in vaccine storage.
Bottlenecks in manufacturing capacity and technology transfer.
Public-private partnerships in vaccine production.
Practical Activities:
Exercise: Identifying potential risks in the vaccine supply chain.
Case Study: Global supply chain challenges during COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

Module 4 – Global Vaccine Distribution, Equity, and Access
Subtopics:
Global actors: Gavi, WHO, UNICEF, COVAX Facility.
National immunization programs and Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI).
Pricing, intellectual property, and access issues (TRIPS waiver debate).
Vaccine equity in low- and middle-income countries.
Strategies for overcoming vaccine hesitancy and misinformation.
Practical Activities:
Role Play: Negotiating vaccine allocation between high- and low-income countries.
Workshop: Designing an outreach campaign to increase vaccine uptake in underserved populations.

Module 5 – Future Directions in Vaccinology and Global Health Security
Subtopics:
Next-generation vaccines (universal influenza vaccine, HIV, malaria, cancer immunotherapy).
Pandemic preparedness and rapid vaccine platforms.
Digital tools for vaccine tracking and surveillance.
Ethical dilemmas in prioritization during shortages.
Strengthening national and global vaccine distribution systems.
Practical Activities:
Capstone Project: Participants design a comprehensive vaccine rollout plan for a low-resource country, addressing both supply chain and community
engagement.
Panel Discussion: What lessons from COVID-19 can shape the future of vaccine development and distribution?
Course Outcomes:
By the end of the course, participants will:
Gain strong foundational knowledge of vaccine science and development.
Understand regulatory and ethical processes in vaccine approval.
Analyze manufacturing and distribution challenges.
Address equity and global access issues in immunization.
Apply practical strategies for vaccine rollout in different contexts.
Produce a vaccine rollout plan as a capstone project.
Receive a certificate of completion.