Participants during the session.
Doha, Qatar: Qatar University (QU), in collaboration with the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD) in Dakar, successfully launched the Polio Advanced Course in Vaccinology (PVAC) 2025, the first specialised course of its kind in the region.
The five-day programme brought together 59 participants from 30 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, representing a new generation of professionals dedicated to global polio eradication.
The programme seeks to build a new generation of leaders and experts in immunisation science and strengthen national and regional capacities in outbreak response, vaccination policy, and disease control.
The course is jointly organised by QU, UCAD, and UNIGE, home to the world-renowned Advanced Course of Vaccinology (ADVAC), with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Over five intensive days, participants engaged in 21 scientific lectures, 8 working group sessions, and 2 high-level expert panels. The curriculum covered immunology, virology, outbreak response, crisis communication, vaccine development, and regulatory frameworks, with discussions led by international experts from the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and leading academic and research institutions.
Prof. Asma Al-Thani, Vice President for Health and Medical Sciences at QU, stated, “I am proud that our institution is leading the region’s first Polio Advanced Course in Vaccinology (PVAC). This initiative embodies QU’s commitment to advancing global health and fostering scientific excellence. By bringing together leading experts and implementers of immunisation programmes, we are contributing to the final push toward global polio eradication and strengthening our region’s capacity to respond to infectious disease threats. This course represents both a scientific milestone and a reaffirmation of QU’s leadership in health education and innovation.”
Dr. Hanan Abdul Rahim, Dean of the College of Health Sciences and Professor of Public Health at QU, added, “The eradication of polio is one of humanity’s greatest collective health efforts. Building and sustaining the expertise to reach that goal requires robust and up-to-date scientific knowledge, as well as a strong global community of trained, connected, and committed professionals. The Polio Advanced Course in Vaccinology reflects this spirit.”
Dr. Hamad Eid Al-Romaihi, Director of Health Protection and Communicable Disease Control at the Ministry of Public Health, noted, “The global fight against polio represents a monumental effort to eradicate a devastating disease that has impacted countless lives. Through decades of coordinated action, innovative strategies, and unwavering dedication, the world stands on the brink of a historic victory. The Ministry of Public Health in Qatar remains steadfast in its commitment to this mission. Protecting communities requires vigilance, sustained collaboration, and robust training and capacity building.”
