1st international neonatal and maternal immunization symposium

Abstract

The 1st International Neonatal and Maternal Immunization Symposium was held in Antalya, Turkey from 26 to 28 March 2010. Delegates who attended ranged from obstetricians and pediatricians to infectious diseases and immunization specialists. Topics covered included maternal and neonatal immunology, vaccine-specific responses in neonates and pregnant women, as well as vaccine safety and future vaccine strategies. Important new and emerging themes included: first, the idea that the neonatal immune system is not immature but is appropriate for the specific age and develops over time by as yet not well defined regulatory processes; second, that neonatal mucosal immunity is important and not well defined; third, that maternal pneumococcal immunization may be protective against pneumococcal disease in early infancy; and fourth, that monovalent H1N1 2009 influenza vaccine is safe and immunogenic in pregnant women. © 2010 Expert Reviews Ltd.