Introducing the Vaccination Acceptance Research Network (VARN)🌎

Dear BeSIN Members,  

We are excited to share that we are launching the Vaccination Acceptance Research Network (VARN) Online Community through a dedicated learning group on the Boost Community platform!  

In 2019, Sabin stood up the VARN, and it has since expanded to over 850 members from more than 95 countries. As those of you who are already VARN members know, the VARN programing focuses on evidence-generation from both research and practice, and we invite anyone engaged in knowledge generation activities to join us!  

The VARN Online Community will provide opportunities similar to those offered in the Boost Community including live engagement events, discussion forums, networking events, and more, but the offerings will be centered around research.

We will officially kick-off this new online community with the VARN Online Community Launch Event on November 21 from 1-3pm CET (see your local time).  

The Launch Event will provide an overview of VARN and its future, featuring presentations and a panel discussion on critical topics related to vaccination across the lifespan including: 

• Strategies for reaching under-immunized and zero-dose populations; 
• New vaccines and vaccine introductions and scale-up; and 
• Building climate-resistant, equitable, and sustainable immunization programs. 

Confirmed speakers include:   

• Ève Dubé, PhD, Professor of Anthropology, Laval University, Canada and VARN Chair    
• Anuradha Gupta, MBA, President, Global Immunization, Sabin Vaccine Institute  
• Benjamin Kagina, PhD, Co-Director, Vaccines for Africa  
• Omera Naseer, MBBS, FCPS, Senior Scientist, National Institutes of Health Pakistan  
• Deepa Risal Pokharel, MA, Senior Adviser, Social and Behavior Change/Team Lead Immunization Demand, UNICEF Headquarters 

We encourage you to share this invitation with any colleagues who may be interested. If you believe a community of researchers aligns with your work, we look forward to welcoming you to the VARN Online Community. We hope you will join us! 

Instructions to Join the VARN Online Community

Simply click on the button below, sign into your Boost member account, and click "Join".