June 13, 2025

PGIVAC 2025 Concludes with Day 5 Spotlight on Latest Vaccine Innovations and Public Health Strategies Chandigarh, June 13 – The final day of the PGIVAC 2025 summit concluded with a powerful focus on the theme “Update on Current and New Vaccines,” offering an in-depth review of the latest vaccine science, innovations, and public health strategies across all age groups. The day began with a thought-provoking plenary by Dr. Chandrakant Lahariya, who advocated a life-course approach to immunization, underscoring the importance of vaccine protection from infancy through old age. Dr. Suneela Garg followed with an urgent appeal to strengthen adult immunization strategies in India, while Dr. Kamini Walia drew a crucial connection between vaccination and the fight against antimicrobial resistance. Adding to the practical aspect of adult immunization, Dr. Lalit Sankhe and Dr. Muralidhar Tambe shared valuable insights from operational adult vaccination clinics. Dr. Veena Kamath presented the latest updates on adult pneumococcal vaccines, and a trio of experts—Dr. Parvinder Kaur Chawla, Dr. Ashish Bhalla, and Dr. Rashmi Bagga—reviewed advancements in vaccines for shingles, meningococcal disease, cholera, hepatitis A, HPV, and tuberculosis. Dr. Swayampragyan Parida concluded the pre-lunch session with updates on travel vaccines. Read also: Global Strategies for Strengthening National Immunization The afternoon shifted focus to pediatric immunization, with Dr. Sanjay Verma and Dr. Unmesh Upadhyay discussing licensed childhood and adolescent vaccines, including pneumococcal, hexavalent, typhoid, and RSV vaccines. In subsequent sessions, Dr. Omesh Bharti, Dr. Harpreet Singh, and Dr. Jerome Kim presented vital updates on vaccines targeting rabies, dengue, malaria, and HIV/AIDS. Dr. Vivek Sagar highlighted new research on the Group A Streptococcus vaccine, and Dr. Ravindra Khaiwal addressed the intersection of climate change and immunization delivery. The final technical session, led by Dr. Tarun Saluja, focused on the potential of public-private partnerships to accelerate vaccine research and development, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The day concluded with a valedictory session where Dr. Sanjay Jain, Dean of Research at PGIMER, presented course completion certificates to all PGIVAC participants. With the successful culmination of its five-day agenda, PGIVAC 2025 reaffirmed its status as a leading platform for advancing global vaccine knowledge and nurturing the next generation of vaccinologists and public health champions.

MP Manish Tewari Must Present His One-Year Report Card to Chandigarh Residen Chandigarh, June 13 — On the completion of one year in office by Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari, BJP state spokesperson Naresh Arora has demanded that the Congress-AAP alliance MP present an account of his work. Arora claimed that since Tewari took office, development in Chandigarh has come to a near standstill. He alleged that none of the promises made in the joint manifesto released during the elections have been fulfilled. “Manish Tewari is attending celebratory events marking one year in office, but he has not held a single public interaction or Janata Darbar to engage directly with the people of Chandigarh,” said Arora. Read also: Global Strategies for Strengthening National Immunization Raising specific concerns, Arora said the city’s youth are still waiting to hear what initiatives have been taken for their welfare. He also questioned the steps taken for women’s safety and reminded Tewari of the unfulfilled promise of ₹8,500 in monthly support. Senior citizens, too, according to Arora, are eager to know what actions have been taken for their benefit. “Simply asking questions in Parliament does not prove an MP’s capability. What matters is the ground-level impact of those questions,” Arora asserted, adding that the people of Chandigarh expect visible action in the remainder of Tewari’s term.