Please note that this is a provisional programme and may be subject to changes. The full day-by-day schedule with all speakers will be finalized and published here in July. 

Monday 25 August - Setting the scene 

  • Introduction to virology (Marc Van Ranst)
  • Data modelling (Niel Hens) 
  • Ten steps of outbreak investigation - simulation exercise (Erika Vlieghe, Isabel Brosius, Liesbeth Van Gestel, Naïma Hammami)

Tuesday 26 August - Communication 

  • Risk assessment and surveillance (Jorgen Stassijns) 
  • Science communication (Erika Vlieghe, Alma Tostmann) 
  • Crisis communication (Frank Van Oss) 
  • Tour of Vaccinopolis (Pierre Van Damme) 

Wednesday 27 August - AMR/IPC/Mental Health 

  • The silent pandemic of AMR (Zoi Dorothea Pana) 
  • Hospital outbreak management (Alma Tostmann) 
  • Well-being and resilience (Lode Godderis) 
  • Panel discussion 

Thursday 28 August - Vaccination/ethics

  • Vaccine confidence and communication 
  • Role play on communcation 
  • Implementation of vaccination campaigns (Inge Neven) 
  • Ethics (Raffaella Ravinetto) 

Friday 29 August - High consequence infectious diseases (HCID)  

  • Which pathogens require an HLIU?
  • Tour of High Level Isolation Unit
  • How well is Belgium prepared? 
  • Panel discussion