· The RIGHT Foundation, International Vaccine Institute (IVI), Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) Co-host the 2026 GLOBAL VACCINE FORUM to strengthen equitable access to next-generation vaccines
· Approximately 170 participants attended the Forum, with speakers representing government, academia, international organizations, and the diplomatic corps in Korea.
· Spotlighting strategies to bridge gaps in vaccine R&D, regulation, and equitable access for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), along with the importance of immunization for aging populations in the Asia-Pacific region
The RIGHT Foundation co-hosted the 2026 GLOBAL VACCINE FORUM with International Vaccine Institute (IVI) and Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) on Thursday, June 25, at the Peace & Park Convention in Seoul.
Now in its seventh year, the Forum was established to accelerate the discovery, development, and delivery of safe and affordable vaccines for global health and to build global vaccine partnerships.
Since the 2017 Global Vaccine Forum, where the establishment of the RIGHT Foundation was officially announced, this year’s Forum holds special significance as it marks the Foundation’s first participation as a co-host.
This year’s theme was “Strategic Partnerships for Next-Generation Vaccines: Bridging Gaps in R&D, Regulation, and Global Access.” Key speakers included experts and representatives from government agencies, academia, and international organizations, including the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization(Gavi), Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Asian Development Bank (ADB), Korea National Institute of Health (KNIH), Thailand’s National Vaccine Institute (NVI), Japan Institute for Health Security, and Stanford University, as well as members of the diplomatic corps in Korea. Approximately 170 participants attended the Forum.
During the Welcome Speech, Minwon Lee, Executive Director of the RIGHT Foundation, said, “It is especially meaningful for the Foundation to participate as a co-host for the first time, and I would like to thank the International Vaccine Institute for providing us with this valuable opportunity. I hope this Forum will serve as an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of international collaboration in advancing vaccine innovation and promoting global health equity.”
During the plenary opening lectures, the Foundation presented its funding and support framework and highlighted key achievements from its project portfolio under the title “End-to-End Vaccine R&D Support for Accelerating Access to LMICs: RIGHT Foundation’s Approach.”
As a speaker during the session, Hoon Sang Lee, Chief Strategy Officer at the Foundation, emphasized, “The Foundation has continuously supported the entire vaccine value chain, from research and development to supply through global health networks, to ensure that vaccines reach those who need them most,” and added, “The Foundation’s model, which brings together governments, global health organizations, and industry partners, can serve as an effective approach to expanding vaccine access in LMICs.”
In the panel discussion that followed, participants discussed the importance of close coordination among regulatory, financing, and procurement systems to ensure rapid and equitable access to underused vaccines in LMICs. There was also consensus that policy coordination, strengthening regional manufacturing capacity, and global partnerships play a key role in translating vaccine innovation into real-world health outcomes.
Subsequent sessions addressed vaccine R&D and expanded access for LMICs, as well as immunization strategies for aging societies, as key agenda items. Participants discussed innovative cases such as Microneedle Array Patches (MAPs), Korea–Africa manufacturing cooperation, and Group A Streptococcus vaccine development, along with approaches to expanding vaccine access through sustained R&D investment and supply chain strengthening. They also highlighted the importance of national immunization policies, financing, regional cooperation, and knowledge sharing to address population aging in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Foundation will continue to strengthen international partnerships through the Global Vaccine Forum and other collaborative platforms, while remaining committed to expanding vaccine access in LMICs and advancing global health equity.