World Immunology Week 2015

Australia leads the way in immunology research, with recent breakthroughs in antibiotic resistance, gastrointestinal bacteria and HIV research coming from our finest institutes. However we still struggle with the movement towards anti-vaccination within the public view. On 29 April World Immunology Day the Australian research community is coming together to celebrate our progress and remind our citizens the importance of vaccination in the fight against preventable diseases.
RiAus has produced a quick video debunking common vaccination myths including whether the MMR vaccine causes Autism. Feel free to pass it on.
[embed]https://youtu.be/EXIka0l_GXs?list=PLPB2vq9gwct4BBVDpMEI_jaHDyn7qsYEG[/embed]
Globally, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recognised that while immunisation efforts have improved life for a lot of people in developed countries, the rates of vaccination are not good enough particularly in less-developed countries. The WHO has released its global vaccination targets for 2015:

Goal
Target
Gap

Immunisation against diptheria, tetanus and whooping cough (DTP3)
At least 90 low or middle income countries to have introduced one or more under-utilised vaccines by 2015.
65 countries

Introduction of under-utilised vaccines
At least 90 low or middle income countries to have introduced one or more under-utilised vaccines by 2015.
ON TRACK

Polio eradication
No new cases after 2014
3 countries remain polio endemic

Maternal and neo-natal tetanus: Global elimination by end-2015
Eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus
Gap: 24 countries

Measles elimination
Eliminate from three WHO regions by end-2015
16% of all children are not being immunized against measles

Rubella elimination
Eliminate rubella from two WHO regions by end-2015
Half of all children do not receive the rubella vaccine

And don't forget to get your flu vax before winter hits!