The Asia Pacific Immunization Coalition (APIC) and the Asia Dengue Voice & Action (ADVA), with the Centre for Behavioural and Implementation Science Interventions (BISI) at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine) are convening the 2nd APIC-ADVA Summit from 11 February to 13 February 2025.
This summit is part of a week-long series of activities in Singapore dedicated to addressing infectious diseases preparedness and developing strategies within the global health community to tackle widespread health emergencies.
Themed ‘Infectious Diseases and Immunization in the Era of Polycrises’, the summit looks to address the multifaceted challenges shaping our world today – pandemics, climate change, geopolitical tensions, and misinformation. Bringing together prominent experts, including scientists, researchers, public health leaders, policymakers, and pharmaceutical industry representatives from across the global health community, the 2nd APIC-ADVA Summit serves as a unique platform to discuss critical advancements in infectious disease policies and program implementation.
A new center for infectious disease emergency response (CIDER) was launched at the National University of Singapore's Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine on 10 February 2025, to commemorate the beginning of the event. CIDER is an innovative initiative aimed at enhancing pandemic preparedness and strengthening responses to infectious disease emergencies. The launch of CIDER will be followed closely by the APIC-ADVA Summit, which will see global and regional public health experts engaging in robust discussions to advance public health, underscoring Singapore’s role in regional cooperation for public health.
"Since the inaugural APIC-ADVA Summit in 2023, the world has faced an escalating array of challenges, compounded by vaccine misinformation and security concerns. This year’s summit comes at a crucial moment, providing a platform to collaborate, share insights, and develop strategies that will advance the global health community toward greater preparedness and resilience," said Professor Tikki Pangestu, Co-Chair, Asia Pacific Immunization Coalition, and Visiting Professor at NUS Medicine.
The impact of megatrends such as climate change, major international health agreements and regulations, pandemic preparedness, resilience, and vaccine security, and the crucial role of implementation science in vaccine delivery are just some of the topics that will be discussed.
Panel Discussions and Speakers Spotlight
The 2nd APIC-ADVA Summit will feature 16 keynote speeches and seven panel discussions, including:
Opening address by Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Singapore highlighting the need for regional and global cooperation to tackle future global health crises. Minister Balakrishnan will also touch on the importance of restoring trust in multilateral organisations and in science and evidence-based collaboration.
“Roundtable perspectives from Director Generals of Health”, featuring senior health leaders Professor Kenneth Mak, Sir Ashley Bloomfield, Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, Dr Enrique A. Tayag, representing Singapore, New Zealand, Malaysia and the Philippines, respectively. Moderated by Dr Louisa Sun, the panel will emphasise the critical need for strengthening national and regional collaborations in the face of crisis.
“Advancing Pandemic Preparedness: policy and innovation lessons for the future” with insights from Sir Ashley Bloomfield, Ms Laurie Garrett, Professor David Heymann, Dr Ahmed Razavi, and moderated by Professor Vernon Lee.
Other prominent panels include: “Mpox Emergency: Global Epidemiology and the Role of Vaccination with MVA-BN as a Critical Countermeasure”, “Closing gaps: Progress on vaccine security and cooperation in the region” and “Mega Trends and Scientific Advances”.
Sir Ashley Bloomfield, Former Director-General of Health New Zealand, Past Co-chair of the International Health Regulations Working Group, World Health Organization, on his keynote speech regarding “Global Health Leadership in a Post-Pandemic World”.
Ms Laurie Garrett, Science Journalist, Pulitzer Prize and Peabody Winning Author of “The Coming Plague” and "Betrayal of Trust: The Collapse of Global Public Health", Council on Foreign Relations Security Advisory Board, where she will discuss “Global Health is Dead. Long Live Global Health” in her keynote address.
Professor David Heymann, Professor, Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, on his keynote addressing “Innovations for more equitable access to endemic, epidemic and pandemic vaccines”.
Dr Ahmed Razavi, Lead for the UK Health Security Agency International Health Regulations Strengthening Project, addressing “Regional and innovative approaches to global health security”.
Dr Sylvie Briand, Director, The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board, Former WHO Director, Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention Department. Dr Briand will share her reflections on Day 1 of the summit and a WHO perspective on strengthening global epidemic and pandemic preparedness.
The conference was attended by numerous Gavi representatives and/or exhibition booths, as well as those from The Vaccine Alliance, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), World Bank, International Vaccine Institute (IVI), industry partners, and universities.
