Vaccines for all: Health, security, growth
On October 1, Karolinska Institutet and the Center for Resilient Health at the Stockholm School of Economics co-hosted a high-level discussion on the global role of vaccines in health, security, and economic growth. The event took place at Forskaren in Stockholm, a hub for collaboration between healthcare, academia, research, and business, and brought together around 70 participants from government, academia, civil society, and the private sector.
Moderated by Prof. Tobias Alfvén (Karolinska Institutet) and Prof. Karl Wennberg (SSE), speakers underscored how vaccines are the cornerstones of sustainable development and equity, but their politicisation highlights the urgent need for science-based dialogue.
Opening remarks by Annika Östman Wernerson and Lars Strannegård highlighted both the scientific achievements that have made vaccines possible and the challenges posed by misinformation in today's "post-truth" era. Minister Benjamin Dousa reaffirmed Sweden's commitment to international partnerships such as Gavi, UNICEF, WHO, and the Global Fund.
Dr. Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, presented milestones in expanding vaccine access, noting that Gavi has helped vaccinate over 1.2 billion children and saved more than 20 million lives.
The panel concluded that sustainable solutions must come from within countries, supported by respectful and accountable partnerships.
Read the full report here.