In this episode of Healthcare Matters, Dr. Robert Popovian and Ben Blanc bring you essential takeaways from the World Vaccine Congress. Joined by guests Abby Bownas, leader of the Adult Vaccine Access Coalition (AVAC) and the American Disease Prevention Coalition (ADPC), and Dr. Thomas Acciani, Director of U.S. Vaccine Policy at GSK, they delve into their significant roles within the vaccine landscape and discuss the overarching importance of the congress. Dr. Popovian highlights the latest advancements in vaccine research conducted by GHLF and their research partner IQVIA Human Data Sciences.

This episode offers a comprehensive overview of the current state and future directions of vaccine development and deployment. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in the field of vaccines.

Among the highlights in this episode:

01:20: Dr. Popovian shares his recent participation to the World Vaccine Congress, including his roles as a presenter and panel moderator, offering insights into the significance of the event

02:43: Dr. Popovian and Abby Bownas discuss the importance of increasing adult vaccination rates and the federal and policy opportunities that can help achieve this goal 

04:13: Abby explains the role of the American Disease Prevention Coalition (ADPC) in supporting pharmacists as vaccinators across different states, highlighting the variation in vaccination rules and authority levels

05:06: Dr. Popovian and Abby discuss the broad coalition of partners involved in ADPC, including pharmacists, vaccine makers, patient groups, and advocacy organizations. They emphasize the coalition's efforts to harmonize state laws on pharmacist vaccination authority before federal temporary provisions expire

06:53: Abby stresses the collaborative effort required among all providers to improve vaccine access and uptake, making the case for pharmacies and physicians to work together effectively

08:23: Dr. Acciani describes his role at GSK and the importance of addressing policy barriers to enhance patient access to vaccines, stressing the collaboration with public and private sectors to remove these obstacles

09:17: Dr. Popovian and Dr. Acciani discuss the need to eliminate unnecessary policy barriers to improve vaccination accessibility, advocating for a "no wrong door" policy where patients can receive vaccinations immediately upon request

11:20: Dr. Popovian presents findings from a study on Medicaid reimbursement and its correlation with vaccine uptake, emphasizing the impact of economic incentives on vaccination rates

13:50: Dr. Popovian discusses GHLF’s research on immunization access and its correlation with reimbursement strategies, particularly focusing on the disparities in vaccination rates among different socio-economic groups

15: 57: Dr. Popovian discusses the challenges faced by immunocompromised patients in accessing vaccines, discussing the significant barriers that persist despite insurance coverage

17:27: Dr. Popovian shares insights on future research directions for GHLF, including a study on vaccine uptake challenges among immunocompromised patients and the potential policy interventions to reduce barriers to vaccination

20:10: Dr. Popovian reflects on the broader implications of vaccine research beyond infectious diseases, pointing to exciting developments in oncology vaccines and their potential impact on public health

Contact Our Hosts

Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF: rpopovian@ghlf.org

Ben Blanc, Associate Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF: bblanc@ghlf.org

A podcast series produced by Ben Blanc.

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