Alzheimer’s Disease International hosted a webinar on COVID-19 vaccines and the global dementia community on the 25th of February 2021, including an overview of the SARS-CoV2 vaccine development process and an update on the various COVID-19 vaccines in development from Dr Shalini Desai of the World Health Organization (WHO). Dr Desai also spoke about the COVAX Facility and how it is assisting in the global allocation of COVID-19 vaccines, as well as safety protocols before, during and after the vaccine development process.

The webinar also featured Fiona Carragher of Alzheimer’s Society (UK), who provided an update on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout within the UK and Dr Jennifer Bute, member of Dementia Alliance International (DAI), who shared her experience of living in a dementia village during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following Dr Bute’s presentation, Jackline Kiarie of Amref Health Africa spoke about how COVID-19 has impacted Kenya and what measures were being taken as the first vaccines prepare to be distributed from next week onwards. Dr PatrickWachholz of São Paulo State University also shared the impact of COVID-19 on care homes in Brazil and how it has shaped the prioritisation of vaccines for people living in long-term care facilities, as well as care workers and those living with disabilities.

A video recording of this webinar is available here: