Public health organisations from member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the globe have pooled their efforts for the development of needed vaccines for the region.

Delegates at the conference. (Source: thainews.prd.go.th)

At a conference on ASEAN cooperation towards vaccination self-reliance organised by the National Vaccine Institute of Thailand, representatives of public health agencies from across the bloc and other countries discussed vaccine security for the region’s over 633 million people.

The meeting viewed presentations on vaccine security, discussion on the development of vaccines and immunities at the regional level and the creation of policies and strategies for vaccine security worldwide.

Attendants drafted a strategy and action plan for ASEAN to be self-reliant in terms of vaccination, acknowledging that access to vaccinations is a key to improving the health quality of ASEAN citizens.

King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi instructor of chemistry Chindarat Pimsaman spoke of developing human resources for vaccine production, saying the process should focus on innovation and technological utilization so that graduating students are able to produce vaccines that will be needed in the future.

(Source: VNA)