3.0

credits

Average Course Rating

Immunization is one of the most cost-effective and successful public health measures available, but loss of public confidence in vaccines has resulted in the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases. This course will review the process of vaccine development and students will understand the use and utility of immunizations for disease prevention. Students will gain an in-depth understanding of the vaccines that have been successfully introduced into routine immunization schedules. This course will discuss post-licensure vaccine surveillance as well as current domestic and international policy issues in vaccine development, supply, delivery and utilization. We will also examine the origins of vaccine hesitancy and discuss the impact of “anti-vaxxers” on immunization coverage and the subsequent return of vaccine-preventable diseases. Students will have the opportunity to work in teams to critically evaluate multi-level interventions to target vaccine hesitancy and improve immunization coverage, and propose a recommendation that will reduce the morbidity and mortality of a specified vaccine-preventable disease. Gordis Teaching Fellowship course. Priority registration is given to Public Health Studies majors. Other students will be permitted to register as space allows.