Background
Since the WHO declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on 1 February 2016, significant efforts and advancements have been made in Zika virus (ZIKV) vaccine development. The purpose of this consultation was to review the state of the science for ZIKV epidemiology and vaccine development.
Objectives of the meeting
- To review the state of knowledge for key elements of the ZIKV vaccine product development strategy.
- To discuss the policy and public health implications for vaccine use in light of recent evidence on ZIKV epidemiology.
- To update the vaccine pipeline and progress towards clinical evaluations.
- To discuss the current status of immunological assays, reagent development, harmonization efforts, and field immunogenicity evaluation.
- To discuss the status of validated animal models for ZIKV pathogenicity and vaccine evaluation, including reproductive toxicology studies.
- To discuss ongoing and planned efficacy trials, human challenge trials, and regulatory considerations, as well as options for trial design and endpoints.