BUILDING ON TRUST AND COLLABORATION TO ROADMAP NEXT PHASE OF AUSTRALIA’S VACCINE SUCCESS Conference returns to lead charge in strengthening the entire life cycle of vaccine development
With
Leah Goodman
Chief Executive Officer
Biointelect
SEGMENT
Filmed in Sydney | September 2026
Trust, collaboration and a stronger vaccine ecosystem were the focus of the second Australian Vaccine Value Chain Conference, held in Sydney, September 2026 and hosted by life science consultancy Biointelect. More than 200 leaders from government, industry, academia, research, investment and the immunisation community attended, joined by international representatives including the International Vaccine Institute and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.
The conference took place amid falling global immunisation rates, rising misinformation, shrinking funding and a resurgence of measles. In Australia, childhood immunisation rates have fallen by between 2.3 and 4.3 percentage points at standard age milestones each year since 2020. Discussions covered research funding, regional health security, sovereign manufacturing, data and capacity building, vaccine access, uptake resistance and pandemic preparedness. Delegates noted progress through the new Australian Centre for Disease Control and the updated National Immunisation Strategy, but experts say further action is needed.
In an interview with the Australian Health Journal, Biointelect CEO Leah Goodman said the mood had shifted since the inaugural 2024 conference, when nervousness was evident. This year, she said, attendees were “feeling that they had a role to play in the shaping of the Australian ecosystem.” She pointed to the first six companies announced in the Biointelect Venturer incubator, funded through the Medical Research Future Fund, as a sign of progress.
Goodman also stressed the importance of international cooperation, stating that “no country can build a resilient vaccine ecosystem alone.” A white paper will capture the discussions and set priorities for the next two years.
Source: Adapted from Biointelect media release (September 2026) and transcript
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