Covid-19 has taken lives, spread across the world and has changed the way we have worked and lived in 2020. Many research institutes worked around the clock to create vaccines which can protect the public with vaccines in the UK getting the green light already. But with these vaccines now being released in the UK, is the public convinced to receive these vaccines?

Though we have received a lot of information from the media about the development of Covid-19 vaccines, the public will still have a number of legitimate questions. These include;

• A short time span of research. Is it sufficient before giving a vaccine the green light?
• What side-effects do we need to be aware of?
• Allergic reactions? What about the people who may be allergic to the vaccine?
• Virus mutations. Will the vaccines work with the current Covid-19 mutations?

For this event, we will be hearing from industry professionals who have worked with vaccines, understand the processes of how a vaccine is created and answer your concerns about receiving a Covid-19 vaccine.

The full programme for the event is as follows;

4pm - Introduction

4.05pm - Vaccinations: A Pubic Health Perspective by Professor Jane Wills - Director of Research & Enterprise, Professor Health Promotion, London South Bank University

4.15pm - What are vaccines? An overview of Covid-19 and vaccine development by Dr Eiman Aleem - Associate Professor of Biomedical Science, London South Bank University

4.25pm -Developing and delivering, safe and effective vaccines by Dr Bryan Deane - Director for New Medicines and Data Policy, The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI)

4.35pm - Rehabilitation and recovery following serious illness related to Covid-19 by Alison James - Senior Lecturer, School of Health & Social Care, London South Bank University

4.45pm - What are the views of the clinically vulnerable and their healthcare team regarding Covid-19 vaccination? by Professor Nicola Thomas - Professor of Kidney Care, School of Health & Social Care, London South Bank University

4.55pm - Panel Discussion & Q&A

5.30pm - Event End

This event will be taking place on Zoom Webinar. Registered guests will receive joining details one day before the event takes place.

Biopics

Jane Wills is a Professor of Health Promotion at London South Bank University. She has worked worldwide to develop training for community health workers, to develop plans for sustainable behaviour change approaches in relation to paraffin safety, food growing, sanitation and physical activity and to investigate good practices and the transferability and scalability of innovation in public health. Her research work has focused on health education and behaviour change and the education of health workforces in prevention.

Dr. Eiman Aleem is an Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences and the head of the Cancer Biology and Therapy lab at the Division of Human Sciences, School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University. She has extensive international experience in translational cancer research. As the co-director of the Institute of molecular medicine at PCH, USA, she worked on personalized therapeutic approaches against children’s cancer, as well as the development of 3D models for improved prediction of drug responses, and on mechanisms of drug resistance. She worked at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, in collaboration with a start-up company on the mechanisms of action of their anti-cancer targeted product. She used viruses regularly as vectors in genetic engineering experiments using mouse models.

Dr Bryan Deane has a degree in Pharmacology and a PhD in Neuropathology, and over twenty-five years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry. This covered development and launch of new medicines in a variety of therapy areas including infectious diseases, and a wide range of countries and regions. Bryan joined the ABPI’s Research, Medical & Innovation Team in May 2018, covering all aspects of New Medicines Development, including a focus on AMR, vaccines, advanced therapies, clinical research and manufacturing.

Alison James is a Registered Nurse and Senior Lecturer at London South Bank University. She has clinical experience in both adult and paediatric nursing and is the module lead for first-year clinical skills modules in the Bachelor of Science and Post Graduate Diploma Adult Nursing at the London South Bank University. Ally is currently also a research assistant exploring the rehabilitation and recovery following critical illness related to COVID-19.

Nicola Thomas is a registered nurse and Professor of Kidney Care at London South Bank University. She is also an honorary nurse consultant at Barts Health NHS Trust. Nicola has worked within the renal speciality for all her career and has extensive clinical, teaching and research experience. Her clinical and research work has focused on the prevention and self-management of kidney disease. At London South Bank University, she is responsible for the Doctorate programme in the School of Health and Social Care and runs four kidney modules for specialist nurses. Nicola is Deputy Vice President (Education) of the British Renal Society. She is part of a national working group for Covid-19 vaccination in kidney disease.