7 September, Cape Town, South Africa  -  ‘Vaccinating our children is a moral obligation,' said Dr Ntombenhle Ngcobo of the Department of Health, keynote speaker at the opening session of the  5th annual Vaccinology Course, in Cape Town today. The course, a partnership between the University of Cape Town's Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine's (IIDMM) Vaccines for Africa (VACFA), Glasko Smith Kline, NESI, Troped, and Sanofi-Pasteur, aims to develop an understanding of the necessity of vaccines in saving lives, and the need for their uptake in Africa.  

Dr Wandile Chauke, of the World Health Organisation, followed Dr Ngcobo's address by emphasising how vaccinating remains one of the most cost-effective intervention in preventing infectious disease. The successful measles immunisation drive was an example. Both opening speakers pointed out that although vaccines had been around for decades, 27 million children are still not being reached worldwide in developing regions. Dr Chauke called for greater financial commitment to immunisation programmes in Africa. 

Co-ordinated by Dr Charles Wiysonge, Vaccinology Programme Manager at the IIDMM, the course this year brings together 60 participants from 14 African countries, comprising paediatricians, clinical research workers, academics, public health specialists and gynaecologists. The fully-sponsored course takes participants through a comprehensive inter-active  programme on vaccine related topics, and runs until Friday, 11 September.

Hosted this year in Cape Town, the course has been presented in 5 African countries so far. Professor Gregory Hussey, Director of the IIDMM, said in his welcome to participants that the organisors were committed to alternating the course in all regions of Africa.  This is because ‘if there is one idea we'd like you take back home with you, it's that you need to become advocates for vaccines in Africa,' he said, illustrating this with the home page of the recently established Vaccines for Africa (VACFA) website, http://www.vacfa.com/. The website is a key advocacy tool promoting the uptake of vaccines in Africa.

The urgency of preventing unnecessary deaths is perhaps best summed up in Dr Ngcobo's closing words to her address- 'don't wait, don't hesitate - vaccinate!'.