Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Development

COURSE OBJECTIVE
Acquire basic knowledge and insight in:

• Infectious diseases, diagnosis, vaccines, vaccination and vaccine immunology
• The history and future of the Dutch national vaccination program
• Vaccines in International Public Health and the role of international organizations
• Vaccine Research & Development, Production and Quality Assurance
• Regulatory aspects in vaccine development, production and safety monitoring
• Public opinions, communication and scare stories
• Vaccination policies for special groups such as of travelers, immigrants, refugees, soldiers, and women during pregnancy and lactation Acquire skills in analyzing and presenting a vaccine and vaccination strategy for one specific infectious disease (group assignment)

COURSE CONTENT
This course gives insight into the past, current and future preventive health care concerning control of infectious diseases with a focus on vaccination. It will be a mixture between biomedical sciences and health policy and management.

First, we will refresh your knowledge on infectious diseases and immunology as the basis for vaccinology. Diagnostics, essential for testing of vaccine efficacy and prevalence of diseases, are also discussed. We further focus on the research & development and manufacturing of vaccines, including quality control and quality assurance. The safety monitoring of vaccines will get special attention. We will address a number of infectious diseases that can be prevented by vaccines in national and international context. Hence the Dutch National Vaccination Program will be discussed in detail, as will the role of vaccines in International Public Health. We will analyze the Dutch vaccination program and the role of key actors such as the government, the Dutch Health Council and the National Institute of Public Health and Environment (RIVM). The future outline and challenges of the Dutch vaccination program are discussed in detail, including how public opinion affects vaccination policies.

To put acquired knowledge into practice, all students will be involved in a group assignment, studying one particular vaccine against a specific infectious disease. The results of these group assignments are to be reported in a presentation and a written report.

At the end of the course students will get the opportunity to visit the Vaccine Unit of the RIVM in Bilthoven, for discussion on specific subjects of interest with scientists involved with the implementation of the Dutch vaccination program.

TEACHING METHODS
Lectures, group assignment, presentation, essay, discussion, excursion, self-study

TYPE OF ASSESSMENT
Individual exam (80%) and group assignment presentation and report (20%). Both parts must at least be sufficient (6 or higher)

RECOMMENDED BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE
Basic knowledge about the pathogenesis of infectious diseases, including microbiology and immunology

TARGET AUDIENCE
Part of the minor Biomedical and Health Interventions. Optional course for a variety of minors, highly recommended for students that consider following the master Management Policy Analysis and Entrepreneurship or the master specializations International Public Health or Infectious Diseases. This minor course requires a minimum of 25 participants to take place.