From the time a young farm boy was first inoculated against smallpox in 1798 until now, vaccines have been created to provide protection from hundreds of diseases, helping people live longer, healthier lives.
On Wednesday, January 25th, Dr. Margaret “Peggy” Rennels will lead a Chesapeake Forum discussion of how vaccines are developed, the different types of vaccines and what might be coming up in the future in Understanding the Science of Vaccines. In this one-day session, Dr. Rennels will also examine what scientists are thinking about when they decide to create a vaccine. For example:
- How does the immune system respond to the germ
- Who needs to be vaccinated against the germ
- The best technology or approach to create the vaccine
In addition, Dr. Rennels will look at how the different vaccine types are able to “teach” the immune system how to fight off certain kinds of germs—and the serious diseases they cause.
Dr. Rennels spent most of her career as a professor of pediatrics, clinical head of the Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Pediatrics, and chief of the pediatric clinical studies section, Center for Vaccine Development, at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore. She was head of U.S. Vaccine Policy GlaxoSmithKline for five years and now is a consultant for non-profit organizations. Dr. Rennels has been involved in the clinical development of multiple pediatric vaccines. She has served as principal investigator for over 30 clinical trials and written and lectured widely on pediatric infectious diseases and immunization.
Understanding the Science of Vaccines is one (1) session, Wednesday, January 25th from 10-11:30 a.m., $15. To register for this or any other Chesapeake Forum course, please visit https://chesapeakeforum.org
Chesapeake Forum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing continuing education opportunities to residents of the Eastern Shore. If you would like to receive the Chesapeake Forum’s monthly newsletter, please email to [email protected] with your name and preferred email.
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