Since 2005, IUIS and EFIS have been working together to involve all Regional and National Societies in a global effort to promote the benefits of immunology research during the International Day of Immunology (DoI) taking place every year on April 29. READ MORE
The 2022 theme was ‘VACCINES.’ IUIS & EFIS hosted a joint webinar, Science, State and Challenges of COVID-19 vaccines, featuring both presentations and a panel discussion to take stock of where we are and what the future may hold. WATCH THE WEBINAR
Immunological Societies and Federations were invited to participate in the day and share their DoI campaign material. These are their contributions:
SAI (Argentina)
The Argentinean Society of Immunology (SAI) celebrated DoI in the major cities of Argentina.
- The “Vaccines” awareness campaign took place in city squares, several hospitals, and primary and secondary schools during April and May.
- SAI members participated in radio and TV interviews and spread activities on FB, TW and IG.
- A short video contest was conducted in primary schools on vaccines with prizes from donations.
- SAI members developed Immuno-tales for small kids (cartoons and texts) uploaded to the SAI page and YouTube and were read and explained in kindergartens and schools.
IMMspire UoT (Canada)
IMMspire is an outreach initiative led by graduate students in the Department of Immunology at the University of Toronto (Ontario, Canada) that aims to expose high school students to the field of immunology through interactive, inquiry-based, and hands-on experiences.
This year, on April 22-23, IMMspire held a virtual conference for over 50 high school students, featuring guest speakers from the department (professors, graduate and undergraduate students). They expanded the initiative by sending students at home experiment kits to learn about PCR, ELISA, scRNAseq and flow cytometry.
Federation of African Immunological Societies (FAIS)
To celebrate the 2022 Day of Immunology, the Federation of African Immunological Societies (FAIS) produced a six-minute Youtube video with various immunologists across the continent introducing the public to the critical importance of immunology, in their local language! The video is available in 7 different languages – English, Arabic, French, Fulani, Igbo, Swahili, and Wolof.
YI-DGFI (Germany)
This year Young Immunologists – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Immunologie (YI-DGFI) developed a three-path-target, building up creative scientific material to help our team create a successful awareness campaign. The goal was to reach out to immunologists and to the general public, who also can help in celebrating the day/week of immunology and contribute to the long race for immunology and vaccine awareness:
1. Immunology memory card game (public & scientific community)
2. April seminar (scientific community)
3. Social media post, #ImmunologyIs (public & scientific community)
SYIS (Switzerland)
Since one day is not enough to share their passion for immunology with the world, the Swiss Young Immunologists Society (SYIS) extended the International Day of Immunology to an International Week of Immunology.
Members of the society were asked to share a paper that stuck in their head due to a surprising and new finding, a novel technique or a creative, experimental design. Between the 25th and 29th of April, the society shared one selected paper each day on Twitter, inspiring young immunologists to read publications outside of their research field.
SBI (Brazil)
The Brazilian Society of Immunology (SBI) campaign aimed to raise awareness of the importance of vaccines. Brazil has registered a drop in several immunisation rates and we believe that information and scientific education can collaborate with people’s confidence in relation to vaccination.
Campaign activities included:
- Informative posts on our social networks and website
- A podcast episode about COVID-19 vaccines
- Publications on the SBI blog
- Commemorative video reinforcing the importance of vaccination
- Launch of an interactive game about vaccination and yellow fever.
SOBOIN (Bolivia)
The Bolivian Society of Immunology (SOBOIN) campaign for 2022, “COVID Vaccines”, covered a broad public through three activities:
- A webinar was organised by adolescents from many cities in Bolivia. These adolescents belong to a group of young leaders in problematic areas in the cities.
- Vaccines fair, to inform the people of Cochabamba city about COVID vaccines, and to fight the fair and the fake news about vaccination
- A mini-documentary film with the participation of healthcare providers, artists, and dancers, given that April 29th is also the International Day of the Dance.
