Dates: 2-13 July 2018
Location: LSHTM, UK
Epidemiological research has become an important tool in assessing vaccine protection. Although there are several courses specialising in vaccinology, there remains a gap in teaching about advanced epidemiological tools for vaccine evaluation. This course fills that gap, providing an in-depth training on current methods used in the evaluation of vaccine efficiency, safety and policy. It aims to address immunisation issues in high, middle and low income countries.
The course is relevant to public health professionals and field researchers with a strong interest in vaccine efficacy, safety and policy impact. Although this course focuses on human diseases the same concepts apply to animal diseases. The course is intensive and a good command of the English language is essential. A knowledge of computers and a basic knowledge of Word for Windows and Excel is also essential.
Participants will be expected to have completed a basic post-graduate epidemiology module or equivalent. They should have an understanding of epidemiological measures of disease frequency (incidence, prevalence), measures of effect (odds ratios, risk ratios), the merits of different study designs (cross-sectional, cohort, case-control, intervention studies) and key concepts and implications of sampling error, bias and confounding.
The topics to be covered will include:
- Epidemiological principles of vaccine evaluation
- Immunological basis for vaccination
- Pre-licensure epidemiological issues:
- Phase I, II and III trials
- Practical and ethical considerations
- Clinical trials: sample size and analysis issues
- Good clinical practice and adverse event monitoring during vaccine trials
- Post-licensure epidemiological issues:
- Vaccine efficacy and effectiveness
- Impact studies
- Burden of disease assessment
- Surveillance of disease and infection
- Adverse events monitoring
- Using immunology in vaccine evaluation
- Infectious disease modelling in assessing vaccine impact
- Economic evaluation of vaccination programmes
- Key issues in vaccination schedules and policy
- Long term implications of vaccination programmes
- Topical issues in the epidemiology of vaccine preventable disease
The course fee for 2018 is £2,995.00. Participants employed by academic/governmental institutions or NGOs from a LMIC (World Bank definition) are offered a 50% reduction on the course fee. This offer is applicable to a maximum of 10 participants on a first come first serve basis based on receipt of payment.
Fees will and cover participation in the course, training materials, and incidental tea/coffee and reception, but does not cover travel costs, accommodation and meals. If the course fee is to be paid on the applicant's behalf, please send a letter from the sponsor to confirm this as soon as possible. Otherwise, the applicant will be held personally responsible for payment.
For how to apply, or to find out more about this course, visit the LSHTM website.
