Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) convened an online Expert Meeting “The Pursuit of Better Immunization and Vaccination Policy Measures – Developing Infrastructure and Utilizing Information to Contribute to Research on Long-Term Vaccine Safety.”

Vaccines have been called “the greatest invention in the history of medicine” and with the outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the value of immunization and vaccination in public health has been reaffirmed in a domestic and global context. Furthermore, the World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that vaccines are among the most cost-effective public health interventions and that immunization and vaccination policies based on a life course approach are needed not only during emergency situations, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, but also during times when crises are not occurring.

Although there is rapid progress in discussions on premarket systems like the R&D system, progress on long-term safety in postmarket systems has been slow. Regarding COVID-19 vaccines, the Administrative Evaluation and Surveillance Commission has recognized the need to conduct safety evaluations using medical claims data. The Subcommittee on Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices of the Health Sciences Council is also discussing a new system to reaffirm postmarket effectiveness and safety in the context of emergency pharmaceutical approvals. If the Strategy for Strengthening Vaccine Development and Production Systems comes into effect and systems are rapidly established for the accelerated utilization of vaccines, the large-scale vaccination of citizens, and the international provision of vaccines for more severe variants and future infectious diseases, it will be more important than ever to ensure long-term postmarket vaccine safety. Considering the diplomatic benefits of vaccinations, such as through the international provision of vaccines, ensuring long-term safety will also become a significant element for image management.

Furthermore, as long as immunizations and vaccinations target healthy people, systems for analyzing, evaluating, and verifying will always be necessary. Reevaluating the system to verify long-term vaccine safety is the only scientific approach in immunization and vaccine policies. For example, in November 2021, the Government resumed efforts to actively promote HPV vaccinations. However, there have been several cases in the past when efforts to promote vaccinations have faced repeated suspension due to issues related to long-term postmarket safety. Therefore, a system is needed for the Government and experts in all fields to scientifically analyze and evaluate long-term vaccine safety and incorporate that information into related policies. After sufficient scientific information becomes available, the benefits and risks of the vaccines will become clearer. This will help improve the environment in which individuals can assess the need for vaccinations themselves.

With the increasing movement in vaccine R&D and major developments in vaccine policies, during this expert meeting, we re-examined the development of infrastructure and utilization of information while reflecting on past policies. Based on the discussion, a report will be published online at a future date with the aim of contributing to long-term vaccine safety research and establishing better vaccination systems.

■ Overview

Date and Time: Monday, February 21, 2022; from 18:00 to 20:00
Format: Zoom Webinar
Host: Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI)
Languages: Japanese (simultaneous interpretation in English available)

■ Programme (titles omitted):

18:00–18:05 Opening Address

• Kiyoshi Kurokawa (Chairman, HGPI)

18:05-18:10 Event Overview

• Joji Sugawara (Manager, HGPI)

18:10-18:30 Keynote Lecture 1: Information Needed to Advance and Reflect on Immunization and Vaccination Policies

• Mugen Ujiie (Director, Travel Clinic; Director, Immunization Support Center, Disease Control and Prevention Center, Center Hospital of the National Center for Global Health and Medicine (NCGM))

18:30-18:50 Keynote Lecture 2: Information Infrastructure for Utilizing Immunization and Vaccine Data

• Mizuho Oyama (Deputy Director, Planning and Finance Department and Chief Digital Officer (CDO), Digital Strategy Office,Toda City; Advisor on Regional Informatization, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications)

18:55-19:55 Panel Discussion
– Next steps necessary for the development and utilization of information that contributes to research on long-term vaccine safety

Panelist:

• Mugen Ujiie (Director, Travel Clinic; Director, Immunization Support Center, Disease Control and Prevention Center, Center Hospital of the National Center for Global Health and Medicine (NCGM))
• Hisashi Urushihara (Professor, Division of Drug Development and Regulatory Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Keio University)
• Mizuho Oyama (Deputy Director, Planning and Finance Department and Chief Digital Officer (CDO), Digital Strategy Office,Toda City; Advisor on Regional Informatization, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications)
• Akinori Sugaya (Head Physician, Sugaya Children’s Clinic; Director, KNOW VPD Protect Our Children)
• Keiko Tanaka-Taya (Director, Immunization Group, Center for Surveillance, Immunization, and Epidemiologic Research, National Institute of Infectious Diseases)
• Shinji Matsumoto (Chairperson of the Vaccine Subcommittee of EFPIA (European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations))
• Shinya Yamaguchi (Vaccine Policy Officer, Head of Immunization Office, Health Service Division, Health Service Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)

Moderator:

• Yui Kohno (Associate, Health and Global Policy Institute)

19:55-20:00 Closing Remarks

• Noriko Furuya (Member, House of Representatives; Acting Chairperson, Association for the Promotion of Improved Public Health, Parliamentary Group for Vaccines and Prevention)