The future of vaccines: a dialogue between science, practice and equity

The COVID‑19 pandemic has underscored the central role of vaccination in prevention, emergency response and societal resilience. The pandemic also highlighted the limitations of global health systems when faced with large‑scale health crises, bringing to light the profound inequalities in access to vaccines.

Drawing on his experience as former CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and his key role in the COVAX initiative as its co-founder, Dr Seth Berkley offers an analysis of the lessons learned from the global vaccine response to COVID‑19. Through his book, Fair Doses, he describes the history of the quest for vaccine equity. He addresses the challenges related to equitable access to vaccines, vaccine diplomacy and international coordination, as well as perspectives on how to better anticipate and manage future pandemics.

After an introduction by Stéphanie Lacour, Vice-President for Support to Strategic Initiatives, this Campus Lecture will take the form of a dialogue between field experience and academic expertise, bringing together Dr Berkley, and two EPFL professors : Bruno Correia, a specialist in protein design and immunoengineering, and Jacques Fellay, an expert in the genomics of infectious diseases. Together, they will explore how scientific advances, combined with the lessons of a global pandemic, can help shape the future of vaccines and strengthen health and vaccine equity on a global scale.

Following the conference, Seth Berkley’s book will be available for purchase and we will host a book signing.