Abstract
Prevention of serious infections in pregnant mothers, newborns, and young infants through immunization during pregnancy and in early life has the potential to further reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. In the past decade, research in this field has advanced substantially, from the understanding of the biology and immunology of pregnancy and early life, to the active development of several candidate vaccines, for which challenges and opportunities for global implementation are under consideration. Experts from academia, industry, regulatory and funding agencies, public health, and international organizations met in Brussels (Belgium) from 10 to 12 September 2017, at the 4th International Neonatal and Maternal Immunization Symposium (INMIS), to review the most relevant advances in maternal and neonatal immunization. The overarching focus of the conference was to identify the path forward to achieve integration of maternal and early life immunization strategies for the successful implementation of vaccines in antenatal care and pediatric programs for reduction of maternal and infant mortality worldwide.IMPORTANCE This report provides an overview of the proceedings of the 4th International Maternal and Neonatal Immunization Symposium, where presentations focused on the state-of-the-art research on the development and implementation of vaccines given during pregnancy for the protection of mothers and infants.
Highlights
Introduction planning Implementation Cost of vaccinesOpportunities and solutionsWork toward engaging local stakeholders with support from national and international recommendationsEvaluate capabilities and strengths to coordinate activities between the two Strengthen disease surveillance against target diseases
Reluctance given challenges posed to antenatal care (ANC)/attending obstetric staff to add to their workload Logistical implications—adequate cold storage facilities, generators Poorly organized outreach services Inadequate linkage data from mother and infant Limited knowledge and awareness of community and health care providers; concern and myths can erode a program
Adequate monitoring of vaccination coverage and disease and AEFI surveillance mechanisms need to be in place
Summary
The Fourth International Neonatal and Maternal Immunization Symposium (INMIS 2017): Toward Integrating Maternal and Infant Immunization Programs. Munoz,a,l Pierre Van Damme,b Ener Dinleyici,c Ed Clarke,d Beate Kampmann,d,e Paul T. Heath,f Ofer Levy,g,h Elke Leuridan,b Clare Cutland,i Ajoke Sobanjo-ter Meulen,j Arnaud Marchantk aDepartment of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA bCentre for the Evaluation of Vaccination, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium cEskisehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir, Turkey dMedical Research Council Unit, The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (MRCG at LSHTM), Banjul, The Gambia eImperial College of London, London, United Kingdom fSt. George’s University of London, London, United Kingdom gPrecision Vaccines Program, Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA hHarvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA iDST/NRF Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit, Wits Health Consortium, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa jThe Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, Washington, USA kInstitute for Medical Immunology, Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium lDepartment of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
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