Building on the outcomes of the 1st Asia Pacific Influenza Summit held in Bangkok in June 2012, the Asia-Pacific Alliance for the Control of Influenza (APACI) was pleased to be able to hold the inaugural Asia-Pacific Influenza Workshop in Hanoi, Vietnam on 9 October 2013.
Awareness of the burden of influenza on public health continues to develop in the Asia-Pacific region, and one of the key lessons learned from the Bangkok influenza summit was that healthcare workers continue to be a difficult group to connect with. The workshop was intended to provide a forum for clear and consistent communication, creating an environment for effective learning.
The objectives of the workshop were to:
- Share information on burden of disease, its diagnosis and management.
- Understand key differences in approaches to pre-pandemic (H5N1, H7N9) and seasonal influenza prevention.
- Generate an understanding of safety and efficacy of influenza vaccines.
- Develop protocol for future workshops and educational forums to be used in other countries on the region.
- Establish collaborative relationships to promote best practices for prevention and treatment of influenza.
The workshop had 3 components:
- Burden of disease, and the management of influenza.
- Vaccine strategies.
- Innovations and new intitiatives.