The social sciences and the future of vaccine and vaccination policies
On 24 November 2025 the workshop “Vaccines & Vaccinations: A Future Agenda for Social Sciences & Policy” will bring together an international group of scholars, practitioners, and policymakers. The workshop will explore the political, economic, ethical, and social dimensions of vaccine development and uptake, as well as ways in which the social sciences might more effectively contribute to public debate and policy.
Why now?
The post-COVID landscape has exposed fragile health systems, deepened global inequities, revived debates on vaccine sovereignty & autonomy, and challenged public trust. Yet social science perspectives still remain marginal in vaccine policy and innovation.
This workshop asks ‘why is this problematic?’ and “what is to be done?’
We will:
- Identify blind spots in vaccine debates & global health governance
- Highlight equity, trust, and sovereignty as core concerns
- Map future research priorities with real-world policy relevance
- Strengthen connections across disciplines, geographies & sectors
| Time (GMT) | 24 Nov, “The future agenda” |
| 9.00-9.30 | Welcome, introduction, refreshments (Sam Vanderslott, Stuart Blume) |
| 9.30-12.00 | 4 subgroup presentations, with discussants [autonomy & sovereignty; conceptualizing vaccines; equity and equality; trust and confidence] |
| 12.00-12.45 | Open discussion |
| 12.45-2.15 | Lunch |
| 2.15-2.45 | Reflections on the morning (Jeremy Ward, Purendra Prasad) |
| 2.45-4.45 | “Vaccine Access” (Alan Silva PHM) & roundtable (Bernice Hausman chair, with panellists) |
| 4.45-5.15 | Refreshment break |
| 5.15-6.15 | “A personal view of vaccines” keynote (Sir Andrew Pollard with Q&A) |
- This event is the launching event of FOVAS — Forum for Vaccine Social Science. The members of FOVAS are experienced researchers drawn from all five continents, and working to advance social science contributions to global vaccine conversations.
Join us!
📍 St Cross College, University of Oxford
🗓 24 November 2025
🎟️ Registration : https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1895649541809
More info : https://vaccinesandsociety.org/events/