Walter A. Orenstein, a leading authority on U.S. vaccine policy, and the Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers Network (DCVMN) will receive the Park Man-hoon Award.
SK Bioscience and the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) announced on the 19th that Professor Orenstein and DCVMN have been selected as this year's Park Man-hoon Award recipients. The award was established in 2021 to honor the achievements of the late Park Man-hoon, former Vice Chairman of SK Bioscience and a pioneer of cell-culture vaccines in Korea, and is now in its fifth year. The award ceremony will be held in Korea on April 23, with the recipients expected to attend.
Professor Orenstein, the individual award recipient, is recognized as a public health expert who led the development of modern vaccination and immunization policies. From 1988 to 2004, he served as director of the National Immunization Program under the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), demonstrating leadership by significantly increasing childhood vaccination rates. During this period, endemic measles virus transmission was virtually eliminated, and incidence rates of other vaccine-preventable diseases decreased by approximately 90 to 99 percent. He subsequently contributed to strategy development at the Gates Foundation, including polio eradication and strengthening immunization systems in developing countries, while also serving as a vaccine strategy advisor to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
The organizational award went to DCVMN, led by CEO Rajinder Suri. Since its founding in 2000, DCVMN has worked to strengthen vaccine production capacity and expand access in developing countries. Currently, more than 45 vaccine manufacturers from 17 countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America participate in the network, supplying over 6 billion doses of vaccines annually to approximately 170 countries worldwide. The organization also supports vaccine development and production in developing countries through technology transfer and regulatory cooperation.
Jerome Kim, Director General of IVI, praised the recipients, stating, "The awardees have protected countless lives through the development and expanded supply of low-cost, high-quality vaccines." Ahn Jae-yong, President of SK Bioscience, emphasized, "We will carry on Vice Chairman Park Man-hoon's spirit by leading innovative vaccine development and stable supply."
