Date: October 27, 2026 (Tuesday) (English only)
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 Central Time (1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET)
Description
Influenza vaccine systems are evolving rapidly. New vaccine platforms, AI-enabled surveillance and antigen design, changing zoonotic transmission patterns, geopolitical pressures, supply-chain risks, declining trust and persistent inequities could reshape pandemic preparedness.
The presenters will explore the full vaccine lifecycle—from surveillance and R&D through procurement, manufacturing, delivery, public uptake and monitoring. The session will also review the use of plausible futures to stress-test strategies, identify vulnerabilities and guide preparedness investments.
This webinar is designed for public health professionals, immunization and pandemic planners, policymakers, infectious disease and epidemiology teams, vaccine and laboratory specialists, emergency preparedness leaders, knowledge-mobilization partners, and community health stakeholders.
Learning Objectives
- To explain how foresight can strengthen pandemic influenza vaccine preparedness under uncertainty.
- To identify six signals of change that may influence Canada’s vaccine readiness.
- To explore how science, technology, One Health, geopolitics, trust and equity interact across the vaccine system.
- To consider implications for public health planning, policy, knowledge mobilization and future investment.
Moderator
Margaret Haworth-Brockman, Senior Program Manager
National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCCID)
Speakers
Dr. Sophie Webb
Sophie Webb is a Postdoctoral Fellow with the Bridge Research Consortium at Simon Fraser University. Her research examines the ethical and political dimensions of public health governance, with a focus on health equity, pandemic response, and the use of metrics in policymaking. She holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of California, San Diego.
Dr. Genevieve Boily-Larouche
Dr. Geneviève Boily-Larouche is the Managing Director of the AMR Policy Accelerator. In her role, she draws upon her significant expertise in global health research and policy to provide strategic leadership to the team, while overseeing critical policy advisory projects and day-to-day activities of the Accelerator.
Geneviève has over 15 years of experience in academic research, knowledge mobilization, science and public health policies, and evaluation of programs and policies. She has extensive international experience, having worked with several countries including Colombia, Benin, Kenya, South Africa, the Philippines, and India. Geneviève is passionate about global health with specific expertise in infectious diseases, women’s health, and pandemic response.