Asia-Pacific Alliance for the Control of Influenza
(APACI)
The First Asia-Pacific Influenza Summit
12-13th June 2012
Bangkok, Thailand
Executive Summary
Awareness of the burden of influenza on public health continues to develop in the Asia-Pacific
region, however there is no consensus on the best way to prevent and treat the disease and to
ensure that policies for the use of seasonal influenza vaccines and specific treatments are in place.
A one day Influenza Summit is proposed to address the challenges of combating influenza in the
region, by focusing on influenza control policy, funding availability and policy implementation
leading to improved influenza vaccine uptake.
APACI will lead a partnership to organise the Summit with the Influenza Foundation of Thailand (IFT),
with input from WHO and CDC regional offices. The intended audience will be representatives of
healthcare provider organisations, public health authorities and others with an interest in the
control of influenza.
The Summit will be modelled on the successful European (ESWI) and United States (CDC/AMA)
Influenza Summits held in 2011, and the forerunner of new initiatives to promote influenza
awareness in the region.
Objectives
1. Review the current state of official influenza control policies in Asia-Pacific countries.
2. Identify, summarize and communicate influenza control strategies that have successfully
increased vaccine uptake in the region.
3. Develop policy and advocacy approaches to improve influenza vaccine uptake in high-risk
groups and healthcare workers in the region
4. Establish collaborative relationships to promote best practices for the control of influenza.
Intended Audience
Participants would include public health officials, healthcare professionals, and other public &
private organisations that have an interest in promoting best practices for the prevention and
treatment of influenza.
12th June: 60 attendees
13th June: 200 attendees
Page | 1 4th April 2012
Registration Fee
The conference will be by invitation only, therefore no registration fee will be necessary.
Summit Venue & Accommodation
Thailand has been proposed as the meeting site as The Influenza Foundation of Thailand is well
established with a focus on influenza awareness education, and is a member of APACI’s regional
network of foundations. A number of studies have also established the burden of disease and
economic cost of influenza in Thailand.
It proposed that the Summit take place on Tuesday 12th & Wednesday 13th of June at the Siam
Kempinski Hotel, Bankok, preceding the ICID 2011 Meeting, 13-16th June 2012.
About APACI
The Asia-Pacific Alliance for the Control of Influenza (APACI) Ltd is an independent organisation,
established in Hong Kong in April 2011. It is a company limited by guarantee with charitable status,
and has a membership consisting of leading experts in the area of influenza, each representing their
respective country within the Asia-Pacific region. Through its Board of Directors, APACI maintains full
control over all of its activities and published materials.
APACI has a clear mission: to reduce the burden of influenza across the Asia-Pacific region, and in
fulfilment of that mission will:
 Raise awareness of influenza, its impact, and the mechanisms for controlling Influenza
 Establish and provide ongoing support to national influenza foundations or similar groups
 Identify the burden of disease in the Asia-Pacific region
 Ensure best practice in prevention and treatment of influenza
APACI’s objectives are consistent with those of WHO and their global agenda on influenza.
Summit Partners
1. The Influenza Foundation of Thailand (IFT),
2. CDC, Thailand
Summit Supported by:
1. International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA), influenza
Vaccine Supply (IVS) International Task Force (www.ifpma.org)
2. Developing Country Vaccine Manufacturers Network (DCVMN)
3. Local Industry association (PReMA)
4. Healthcare professional organizations (World Medical Association, International Council of
Nurses, World Health Professionals Alliance, Local HCP orgs etc)
Page | 2 4th April 2012
Summit Planning & programming Committee
A/Prof Lance Jennings (Chair APACI)
Clin/Prof David Smith (Director APACI)
Kim Sampson (Executive Director)
Prof Paul Chan (Director APACI)
Dr Tawee Chotpitayasunondh (IFT)
CDC (Thailand) representative – to be asked
Tamara Music (IFPMA IVS), Bram Palache (Abbott) Mark Simmerman, Atika Abelin (Sanofi-Pasteur),
Kitima Yuthavong(PREMA)
Funding sources
1. APACI
2. IFPMA- an unrestricted grant to APACI to support the establishment of the A-P Influenza
Summit
3. PreMA –provision of local expertise & guidance
4. APEC- (to be approached)
Page | 3 4th April 2012
Programme
TIME
SESSION TITLE
Topics to be covered
SUGGESTED SPEAKER
12th June
18:00-18.55
Welcome Dinner and Keynote Presentation
--- Pre-dinner drinks ---
18.55-19.05
--- Doors opened, attendees seated ---
19.05-19.15
--- Entrée served ---
19.15-19.30
Opening of Flu Summit
 Introduction by MC
 5-minute introduction by each, about the
significance of the summit from their individual
perspectives.
19.45-19.55
20.15-20.45
20.45-21.00
21.30
Page | 4




Dr Rungrueng Kitphati [Confirmed]
A/Prof Lance Jennings, APACI Chair [Conf]
Prof Prasert Thongcharoen, IFT Chair [Conf]
Dr. Supamit Chunsuttiwat, Ministry of
Public Health, Thailand [Confirmed]
--- Main Course Served --Communicating risk around influenza
vaccination



Issues/factors relevant to policy makers
Communicating risk/benefit
Public communication about vaccination
--- Desert & Coffee served ----- Close ---
Dr Cornelia Betsch [Confirmed]
13th June
08.30-09.00
1st Asia-Pacific Influenza Summit
--- Coffee/Registration ---
09.00-09.05
09.05-09.25
Opening
Influenza vaccine policies and guidelines
in the Asia-Pacific region


09.25-09.30
Introduction to session
09.30-10.30
1: Policy Discussion
10:30-11.00
11.00-11.05
Introduction to session
11.05-12.30
2: Priority Groups Discussion
Session 1,2 to include: 5 key persons. Speak for 3
minutes /3ppt slides each on the topic. Chair fields
questions from audience. Session 3 is panel discussion
1. WHO Seasonal Influenza Vaccine
Recommendations & Review of Vaccine Coverage
2. Evidence gaps for informing policy development:
burden of disease in the AP region.
3. Evidence gaps for informing policy development:
duration of protection.
4. Critical success factors in vaccine uptake
--- Coffee Break --Speak for 3 minutes /3ppt slides each on the topic.
Chair fields questions from audience.
1. The elderly
2. High risk chronic disease
3. Healthcare workers
4. Pregnant women
5. Children
12.30-13.30
Page | 5
Introduction to Round Tables
Introductory review of influenza vaccine
guidelines in the AP Region
--- Lunch ---
A/Prof Lance Jennings
CDC (Thailand) [tbc]
Chair: Dr Alan Hampson [Confirmed]
1.
2.
3.
4.
Prof Hitoshi Oshitani, Japan [Confirmed]
Dr John Tam[Confirmed]
Prof Woo Joo Kim [Confirmed]
Dr Bram Palache [Confirmed]
Chair: Prof David Smith
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Dr Janet McElhaney, USA, [Confirmed]
Dr Allison McGeer, Can [Confirmed]
Dr Wonchat Subhachaturas (WMA)[Confir]
Elizabeth McCarthy, Aus [confirmed]
Dr Tawee Chotipitayasunondh, Thailand
[Confirmed]
13.30-13.35
Introduction to session
Objective to review influenza vaccination programs in
the region and discuss. (Session 3 is a panel discussion)
How have good outcomes been achieved?
Chair: Lance Jennings
13.35-15.30
3: Successful strategies & discussion on
the way forward
 Challenges in implementation of a seasonal
influenza vaccination program
 Success in a developed countries
 Success in a developing countries
 Why don’t high risk patients get vaccinated?
 Why don’t healthcare workers get vaccinated?





15.30-15.45
Meeting Summary
Formal Closing
Must be finished by 4:30pm
Meeting to be recorded
Other notes & comments:



Limit attendance to 25 industry reps (including industry committee members)
Organize media: press release only
Summit written up
Page | 6
Prof David Smith, Aus [confirmed]
Prof Cissy Kartasasmita, Indo [Confirmed]
Dr Janet McElhaney, USA, [Confirmed]
Dr Allison McGeer, Can [confirmed]
John Tam, WHO [confirmed]
Lance Jennings to provide summary.
Slides produced during the sessions, and notes
generated by the team (Mark, Kim et al).
Dr. Supamit Chunsuttiwat