Washington, DC, May 20, 2024 (PAHO/WHO) — 40 professionals from 12 Latin American countries began today the second edition of the MERCOSUR Course on Vaccine Development and Production. Over the course of four months, the program will address key aspects of the vaccine life cycle, from research and development to industrial production and health regulation, including immunization strategies and the strengthening of vaccination systems.
The program combines virtual sessions and in-person activities and is aimed at technical teams from Ministries of Health, National Institutes of Health, and other public entities.
The course is made possible through collaboration between the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), the Bio-Manguinhos Institute, the Butantan Institute, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and the Ministry of Health of Brazil, and is part of an initiative developed within the framework of MERCOSUR's efforts to strengthen regional capacities in health technologies.
During the opening session, representatives from the organizing institutions agreed on the importance of training qualified human resources as a key component in creating favorable ecosystems for innovation and regional vaccine production. They also emphasized the importance of regional collaboration as an essential element to advance toward this goal.
The second edition of the course has expanded its reach to include countries in Latin America beyond the MERCOSUR Member States. With the participation of professionals from 12 Latin American countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay), the course will provide technical training, promote knowledge exchange, and strengthen cooperation among national health institutions in strategic areas such as vaccine development, production, regulation, and quality.
This initiative is aligned with PAHO’s mandates and priorities for strengthening regional capacities in health technology innovation and production and is part of the actions promoted by the Department of Innovation and Access to Health Technologies through the Regional Platform on Innovation and Production.
This activity is supported by Global Affairs Canada (GAC).
