HUMAN VACCINES & IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS 2016, VOL. 12, NO. 12, 3137–3138 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2016.1221548
MEETING REPORT
The 1st World Association for Infectious Diseases and Immunological Disorders (WAidid) Congress, Milan, Italy Susanna Esposito Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Universita degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy ARTICLE HISTORY Received 18 July 2016; Accepted 31 July 2016
The 1st World Association for Infectious Diseases and Immunological Disorders (WAidid) Congress, which was held in Milan, Italy, between the 18th and 20th of February in 2016, dedicated a great amount of time to discuss vaccines. On the other hand, WAidid is a Scientific Society that represents a network between the Associations or Scientific Societies specialized in infectious and immunological diseases, and involves at the same time all the different organ specialists who treat neonates, children, adults and the elderly. Consequently, to disseminate scientific news and culture on vaccination represents one of WAidid mission. The opening session included a great lecture by Albert Osterhaus (Germany) on infectious diseases from animals to humans and from humans to animals, with a special focus on influenza prevention and studies on universal influenza vaccines that should permit a persistent protection against influenza viruses despite major changes in their antigenic characteristics. Thereafter, Kathryn Edwards (USA) gave a wonderful talk on vaccines today and tomorrow, with an update on vaccines that will appear in the market in the next five years. On the same day, after these lectures there was the first presentation of the clinical guidelines on immunization in adults written by the ESCMID Vaccine Study Group (EVASG), the European Geriatric Medicine Society (EUGMS) and WAidid.1 Presentations were performed by Paolo Bonanni (Italy) that lead the section on vaccination in adults, Gaetan Gavazzi (France) that lead vaccination in the elderly, Filippo Ansaldi (Italy) that lead vaccination in immunocompromised persons and Pier Luigi Lopalco (Sweden) that lead vaccination in adults exposed at increased risk. These guidelines highlighted the importance to extend the benefits of vaccination to all age groups including the older population in order to decrease mortality and morbidity linked to vaccine-preventable diseases. Presentations showed recommendations suggested by the panel and remarked that strong efforts are required to increase the coverage in adults and the elderly, considering the patient’s risk on the basis of the age-related immune-senescence, the high frequency of an underlying chronic disease, or the pregnancy status and work activities. On the second day, the debate in vaccine-preventable diseases included topics as immune modulation and sex differences after
vaccination with studies performed by Kate Flanagan (Australia), showing that vaccines have heterologous effects on the immune system leading to altered susceptibility to a range of pathogens, and possibly allergy and autoimmunity. The presentation pointed out the need to understand immune mechanisms in order to exploit beneficial vaccine effects, and diminish deleterious ones, discussing the future for personalised vaccines. Adam Finn (UK) focused his presentation on the meaning of meningococcal carrier and presented data collected in UK on the reduced meningococcal carriage rates during 12 months after meningococcal conjugate ACYW and meningococcal B vaccines, showing that these two vaccines might affect meningococcal transmission when widely implemented. Thereafter, Patrick O’Connor from World Health Organization (WHO, Denmark) showed that there has been a tremendous amount of progress toward polio eradication over the past five years, although tremendous efforts are required in countries where wild polioviruses circulate and outbreaks have occurred. Moreover, Adam Finn performed a literature review on the best of 2015 focusing on the UK experience on the universal influenza vaccination in children 2–10 y old and showing the efficacy and safety data collected with the use of live attenuated influenza vaccine in pediatric age. In the afternoon, there were two symposia on vaccination. The first one covered the importance of universal varicella vaccination. Several people attended the symposium where Paolo Bonanni presented an overview on immunogenicity, safety and efficacy of measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (MMRV) vaccine, Adam Finn discussed pros and cons of universal varicella vaccination, and Giovanni Gabutti (Italy) showed the experience of regional varicella vaccination in Italy in light of a national recommendation. There was a large discussion after the three presentations and the audience supported the importance of a universal use of varicella vaccination in the second year of life. In the other symposium, I performed a presentation on how to reduce community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) with the use of vaccines. I focused my presentation on pneumococcal vaccines, showing data on the significant reduction in CAP burden obtained with 13-valent and 10-valent conjugated vaccines. Moreover, I highlighted also the importance of measles, influenza, and pertussis vaccines in CAP prevention.
CONTACT Susanna Esposito, MD [email protected] Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Universita degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Commenda 9, 20122 Milano, Italy. © 2016 Taylor & Francis
3138
S. ESPOSITO
Furthermore, the last day there was a talk show with families and Associations of patients with chronic diseases in order to solve their doubts related to vaccine hesitancy. Kathryn Edwards, Miguel O’Ryan (Chile), Katie Flanagan and myself answered doubts and uncertainties on vaccination, focusing mainly on rheumatologic diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, and onco-hematologic problems. All of us explained that vaccination represents the best way of prevention of infectious diseases burden in chronic patients of any age. During the 1st WAidid, several posters on vaccination were presented. Among the most interesting novel data, there were those on epidemiology of vaccine-preventable diseases and vaccination coverage in seniors in Europe. Moreover, very interesting data on herpes zoster burden and immune response to varicella zoster after zoster vaccination in aging individual were presented. These results showed that a priority in vaccination field is to bring together various stakeholders to work against barriers in making older adult vaccination a reality. All of these presentations highlight the WAidid’s commitment in vaccines and its ability to attract clinicians and
researchers working in a wide range of specialty fields pertaining to this topic. The 1st WAidid Congress increased the visibility of WAidid in Europe and beyond. The next annual meeting, 2nd WAidid Congress, will be held in Milan, Italy, in February 2018, and it will provide participants with an excellent opportunity to see each other again (in addition to many new colleagues) and to learn even more.
Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest The authors has no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Reference [1] Esposito S, Bonanni P, Maggi S, Tan L, Ansaldi F, Lopalco PL, Dagan R, Michel JP, van Damme P, Gaillat J, et al. Recommended immunization schedules for adults: clinical practice guidelines by the Escmid Vaccine Study Group (EVASG), European Geriatric Medicine Society (EUGMS) and the World Association for Infectious Diseases and Immunological Disorders (WAidid). Hum Vaccin Immunother 2016; 12:1777-94; PMID:27135390
MEETING REPORT
The 1st World Association for Infectious Diseases and Immunological Disorders (WAidid) Congress, Milan, Italy Susanna Esposito Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Universita degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy ARTICLE HISTORY Received 18 July 2016; Accepted 31 July 2016
The 1st World Association for Infectious Diseases and Immunological Disorders (WAidid) Congress, which was held in Milan, Italy, between the 18th and 20th of February in 2016, dedicated a great amount of time to discuss vaccines. On the other hand, WAidid is a Scientific Society that represents a network between the Associations or Scientific Societies specialized in infectious and immunological diseases, and involves at the same time all the different organ specialists who treat neonates, children, adults and the elderly. Consequently, to disseminate scientific news and culture on vaccination represents one of WAidid mission. The opening session included a great lecture by Albert Osterhaus (Germany) on infectious diseases from animals to humans and from humans to animals, with a special focus on influenza prevention and studies on universal influenza vaccines that should permit a persistent protection against influenza viruses despite major changes in their antigenic characteristics. Thereafter, Kathryn Edwards (USA) gave a wonderful talk on vaccines today and tomorrow, with an update on vaccines that will appear in the market in the next five years. On the same day, after these lectures there was the first presentation of the clinical guidelines on immunization in adults written by the ESCMID Vaccine Study Group (EVASG), the European Geriatric Medicine Society (EUGMS) and WAidid.1 Presentations were performed by Paolo Bonanni (Italy) that lead the section on vaccination in adults, Gaetan Gavazzi (France) that lead vaccination in the elderly, Filippo Ansaldi (Italy) that lead vaccination in immunocompromised persons and Pier Luigi Lopalco (Sweden) that lead vaccination in adults exposed at increased risk. These guidelines highlighted the importance to extend the benefits of vaccination to all age groups including the older population in order to decrease mortality and morbidity linked to vaccine-preventable diseases. Presentations showed recommendations suggested by the panel and remarked that strong efforts are required to increase the coverage in adults and the elderly, considering the patient’s risk on the basis of the age-related immune-senescence, the high frequency of an underlying chronic disease, or the pregnancy status and work activities. On the second day, the debate in vaccine-preventable diseases included topics as immune modulation and sex differences after
vaccination with studies performed by Kate Flanagan (Australia), showing that vaccines have heterologous effects on the immune system leading to altered susceptibility to a range of pathogens, and possibly allergy and autoimmunity. The presentation pointed out the need to understand immune mechanisms in order to exploit beneficial vaccine effects, and diminish deleterious ones, discussing the future for personalised vaccines. Adam Finn (UK) focused his presentation on the meaning of meningococcal carrier and presented data collected in UK on the reduced meningococcal carriage rates during 12 months after meningococcal conjugate ACYW and meningococcal B vaccines, showing that these two vaccines might affect meningococcal transmission when widely implemented. Thereafter, Patrick O’Connor from World Health Organization (WHO, Denmark) showed that there has been a tremendous amount of progress toward polio eradication over the past five years, although tremendous efforts are required in countries where wild polioviruses circulate and outbreaks have occurred. Moreover, Adam Finn performed a literature review on the best of 2015 focusing on the UK experience on the universal influenza vaccination in children 2–10 y old and showing the efficacy and safety data collected with the use of live attenuated influenza vaccine in pediatric age. In the afternoon, there were two symposia on vaccination. The first one covered the importance of universal varicella vaccination. Several people attended the symposium where Paolo Bonanni presented an overview on immunogenicity, safety and efficacy of measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (MMRV) vaccine, Adam Finn discussed pros and cons of universal varicella vaccination, and Giovanni Gabutti (Italy) showed the experience of regional varicella vaccination in Italy in light of a national recommendation. There was a large discussion after the three presentations and the audience supported the importance of a universal use of varicella vaccination in the second year of life. In the other symposium, I performed a presentation on how to reduce community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) with the use of vaccines. I focused my presentation on pneumococcal vaccines, showing data on the significant reduction in CAP burden obtained with 13-valent and 10-valent conjugated vaccines. Moreover, I highlighted also the importance of measles, influenza, and pertussis vaccines in CAP prevention.
CONTACT Susanna Esposito, MD [email protected] Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Universita degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Commenda 9, 20122 Milano, Italy. © 2016 Taylor & Francis
3138
S. ESPOSITO
Furthermore, the last day there was a talk show with families and Associations of patients with chronic diseases in order to solve their doubts related to vaccine hesitancy. Kathryn Edwards, Miguel O’Ryan (Chile), Katie Flanagan and myself answered doubts and uncertainties on vaccination, focusing mainly on rheumatologic diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, and onco-hematologic problems. All of us explained that vaccination represents the best way of prevention of infectious diseases burden in chronic patients of any age. During the 1st WAidid, several posters on vaccination were presented. Among the most interesting novel data, there were those on epidemiology of vaccine-preventable diseases and vaccination coverage in seniors in Europe. Moreover, very interesting data on herpes zoster burden and immune response to varicella zoster after zoster vaccination in aging individual were presented. These results showed that a priority in vaccination field is to bring together various stakeholders to work against barriers in making older adult vaccination a reality. All of these presentations highlight the WAidid’s commitment in vaccines and its ability to attract clinicians and
researchers working in a wide range of specialty fields pertaining to this topic. The 1st WAidid Congress increased the visibility of WAidid in Europe and beyond. The next annual meeting, 2nd WAidid Congress, will be held in Milan, Italy, in February 2018, and it will provide participants with an excellent opportunity to see each other again (in addition to many new colleagues) and to learn even more.
Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest The authors has no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Reference [1] Esposito S, Bonanni P, Maggi S, Tan L, Ansaldi F, Lopalco PL, Dagan R, Michel JP, van Damme P, Gaillat J, et al. Recommended immunization schedules for adults: clinical practice guidelines by the Escmid Vaccine Study Group (EVASG), European Geriatric Medicine Society (EUGMS) and the World Association for Infectious Diseases and Immunological Disorders (WAidid). Hum Vaccin Immunother 2016; 12:1777-94; PMID:27135390
