The 25th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID), which was held in Copenhagen, Denmark, between the 25th and 28th of April in 2015, dedicated a great amount of time to discussing vaccines. Particularly highlighted were their significant direct and indirect benefits in all age groups and the great interest of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) in the prevention of infectious diseases.
Three vaccine-related keynote lecture were featured. The first lecture, presented by Helene Lepetit (Paris, France) on April 27th, analyzed the wording used to fight against vaccine skepticism on social networks. Helene presented her experience with the website www.maman.fr and highlighted the importance of actively involving parents in decisions regarding vaccination so that they may act as powerful advocates in their communities.
On April 27th, a second important key-note lecture was presented by Robb Butler (Copenhagen, Denmark), who presented on all of the initiatives that were organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) for World Immunization Week 2015, which took place at the same time as the 25th ECCMID. The WHO headquarters in Copenhagen launched several positive messages via press conferences and social networks on the priorities in the field of vaccinology, highlighting the short-, medium-, and long-term goals in Europe.
The third provocative key-note lecture, presented by Peter Aaby (Copenhagen, Denmark) on April 28th, considered the non-specific effects of vaccination. Peter presented the direct and indirect effects of various vaccines, highlighting that they are usually associated with synergic benefits, but in some cases they could have a negative impact. For this reason, the surveillance of the impacts of vaccines on the populations in which they are implemented is always mandatory.
Moreover, 4 scientific symposia at the conference covered actual issues related to prevention through vaccine use. The first symposium on April 25th, reviewed the innovative approach of maternal immunization as a way to prevent newborn infections The immunological bases and challenges of maternal immunization were discussed by Claire-Anne Siegrist (Geneva, Switzerland). Thereafter, specific vaccines were extensively reviewed: an update on the prevention of pertussis and group B streptococcal infections in neonates was presented by Ajoke Sobanjo-ter Meulen (Seattle, WA, United States), and new data on influenza and respiratory syncytial virus infections during the first months of life were presented by Shabir Madhi (Johannesburg, South Africa). Finally, the potential impacts of maternal immunizations on adverse pregnancy outcomes (i.e., hospitalization during pregnancy, preterm birth, stillbirth, and malformations) were presented by Saad Omer (Atlanta, GA, United States). The presentations on all of these interventions highlighted the amount of research that has been conducted over the last 5 years on the benefits of maternal immunizations in pregnant women and neonates. However, further studies are needed to translate the results of preliminary research into routine clinical practice.
The second vaccine-related scientific symposium took place on April 26th and focused on recent top papers in pediatric infectious disease. Susanna Esposito (Milan, Italy) discussed emerging viruses, invasive bacteria, and hot topics in anti-infective treatment. Ron Dagan (Beer-Sheva, Israel) discussed recent advanced papers on vaccines and highlighted priorities for future research in the field. The two experts agreed that vaccines have had and continue to have a significant impact on childhood morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, Ron Dagan had shown that the impact observed with pneumococcal vaccination in children could help in understanding pneumococcal pathogenesis and epidemiology (the so called “Vaccine Probe” studies). This explains why a large part of the research in pediatric infectious diseases is dedicated to developing new vaccines, analyzing the impacts of the most recent products on pediatric infectious diseases, and increasing vaccination coverage, especially in children with chronic underlying diseases.
The third scientific symposium took place on April 26th and focused on the utility of administering the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) to adults, considering the already widespread use of the pediatric PCV13 in Europe. Two different positions were presented: Marc Bonten (Utrecht, The Netherlands) was in favor of vaccination, whereas Pekka Nuorti (Helsinki, Finland) was against universal vaccination but in favor of vaccinating adults with chronic underlying diseases and the elderly. An interesting point raised by Nuorti was that the currently existing vaccines could have different indirect effect on adults, with a potential increase of some vaccine serotypes in this age group as a results of the use of PCV10 in Finland, suggesting that the need to vaccinate adults may vary by the choice of vaccine in infants. The audience was divided on whether to apply universal pneumococcal vaccination or a risk-based preventive strategy in adults.
The fourth scientific symposium was held on April 27th and considered poliomyelitis eradication. Updated worldwide data were presented by Hamid Jafari (Geneva, Switzerland). Two specific talks highlighted differences across Asia: Jagadish Deshpande (Mumbai, India) presented the success obtained in India, and Jean-Marc Olivé (Paris, France) discussed the problems related to poliomyelitis eradication that are still present in Pakistan. Finally, Emilia Anis (Jerusalem, Israel) presented the interesting cases of silently transmitted wild poliovirus that were reported in Israel (a country with high population coverage with the inactivated poliovirus vaccine) in 2013-2014. All of the speakers highlighted the importance of ensuring high vaccination coverage in vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations and the need for individuals traveling to areas where wild poliovirus circulates to be up to date with their poliovirus vaccination. The need for a new and improved vaccine was also discussed.
Furthermore, 2 vaccine-related educational workshops held on the first day of the meeting covered interesting topics related to vaccines in special populations. The first educational workshop was co-organized by the ESCMID Vaccine Study Group (EVASG), the ESCMID Study Group for Infections in Immunocompromised Hosts (ESGICH), and the Trainees Association of ESCMID (TAE). Per Ljungman (Stockholm, Sweden) discussed the problems related to the vaccination of oncologic patients, highlighting the importance of prevention in these patients who are at high risk for developing infectious complications. Oriol Manuel (Lausanne, Switzerland) presented the available data on the impacts of biological drug treatments on the immune response to vaccines. Thereafter, Susanna Esposito (Milan, Italy) discussed evidence on influenza vaccination efficacy in asthmatic patients and the lack of knowledge among medical doctors and patients on the importance of preventing influenza in these patients who are at risk for developing influenza complications.
The second educational workshop, co-organized by EVASG and the ESCMID Study Group for Infections in the Elderly (ESGIE), focused on methods to improve vaccination compliance. Susanna Esposito (Milan, Italy) focused on approaches that are useful in healthy children and in those with underlying chronic diseases. Gaetan Gavazzi (Grenoble, France) discussed the problems related to low vaccination coverage among health care workers and highlighted the differences in recommendations across countries. Johan Flamaing (Leuven, Belgium) discussed the importance of vaccination in older adults. Both educational workshops were followed by an intensive interactive discussion that involved several questions and a substantial debate on the presented topics.
During the 25th ECCMID, an oral session was conducted that included submitted uninvited presentations and several posters on vaccination. Among the most interesting novel data presented, Marc Bonten discussed evidence showing that among older adults, PCV13 is effective in preventing vaccine-type pneumococcal, bacteremic, and nonbacteremic community-acquired pneumonia and vaccine-type invasive pneumococcal disease but not community-acquired pneumonia from any cause.
All of these presentations highlight the ESCMID's continued commitment in vaccines and its ability to attract clinicians and researchers working in a wide range of specialty fields pertaining to this topic. Moreover, EVASG was created almost 2 years ago with the aim of building a network of colleagues from different backgrounds within the ESCMID and to provide educational opportunities and develop new research ideas in the field of vaccinology in collaboration with other scientific societies. The 25th ECCMID increased the visibility of ESCMID and EVASG in Europe and beyond. Next year's meeting, 26th ECCMID, will be held in Istanbul, Turkey, between April 9th and 12th, and it will provide participants with an excellent opportunity to see each other again (in addition to many new colleagues) and to learn even more.