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Abstract:
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Vaccines have long been recognized as one of the greatest achievements in public health. Through mass immunization, smallpox was eradicated globally in 1979 and polio was eliminated in the Americas in 1994. In the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, several vaccines have been successfully developed in record time thanks to incredible scientific innovation and public-private partnership. Vaccine development takes a rigorous approach regarding quality, safety and efficacy evaluation. In this presentation, we will explain how vaccine works in stimulating immune responses and protecting people from diseases. A new vaccine must pass high bars of safety and efficacy to justify the risk benefit of potential mass immunization. In addition, it is important to identify potential immunological markers that predict vaccine efficacy. Having such a predictive marker can substantially accelerate the development of next generation vaccines. We will discuss the special challenges in developing vaccines and highlight the statistical innovation, leadership, and quality attributes in the spirit of Deming that have helped accelerate the development of novel vaccines.
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