The course covers an overview of the challenges of vaccination, immunological basis of vaccine efficacy, clinical evaluation of vaccines, specific examples of vaccines and challenges for future vaccines (including TB and HIV).

Knowledge
Students should at the end of the course have

Knowledge of how vaccines work immunologically and epidemiologically
Know the different types of vaccines and guidelines for current vaccination practices
Understand the historical background of the most important vaccines.
Know the rules and regulations for testing new vaccines and key developmental stages such as pre-clinical and clinical (Phase I-IV) vaccine trials
Understand the challenges in the development of new vaccines

Practical ability
Be able to critically discuss the advantages and disadvantages of current vaccines
Be able to explain the challenges of development, clinical testing and approval of new vaccines
Be able to discuss key literature in vaccinology

General Competence
Comprehend the background for the use of current vaccines and reflect on the challenges and opportunities of new vaccine strategies
Know the ethics surrounding the use of vaccines and be able to weigh the benefits (eg protection) against the potential disadvantages (side effects) of vaccination.
Be able to critically assess vaccination programmes, including long-term population effects and the importance of vaccination coverage.

Need bachelordegree

Lectures (10 lectures, each of which is 2 hours long)

Discussion session (1 session - 2 hours long)

January - Mars, Tuesday and Thursday at 2:15 - 4:00 p.m.

The syllabus will be covered by lectures and text book:

Vaccines 5th Edition, Plotkin, Orenstein, Offit

Saunders Elsevier 2008

Course Coordinator: Rebecca Jane Cox Brokstad, E-mail: rebecca.cox@uib.no

Adm. e-mail: studie@kliniskmedisin.uib.no or Elin.Heggernes@uib.no