The 2026 IVI–SK bioscience Park Mahn-hoon Award ceremony, sponsored by SK bioscience (302440.KS) and hosted by the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), was held Tuesday at The Plaza Hotel in Seoul.
Now in its fifth year, the Park Mahn-hoon Award recognizes individuals and institutions that have contributed to expanding global immunization and advancing vaccine equity. It is often called the "Nobel Prize of the vaccine industry." This year's recipients are Walter A. Orenstein, a professor at Emory University, and the Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers Network (DCVMN), who were jointly selected.
The event was attended by SK bioscience President Ahn Jae-yong and IVI Director General Jerome Kim, along with key figures from the healthcare sector and related institutions, including former Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) Commissioner Jee Young-mee and former Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Lee Jong-koo. KDCA Commissioner Lim Seung-kwan delivered a congratulatory message via video. The ceremony was designed to highlight immunization policy and vaccine manufacturing capacity as core pillars of the global vaccine ecosystem and to explore future directions for collaboration.
Orenstein, the first recipient, was recognized for his leadership in establishing and implementing immunization policies at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Emory University and the Gates Foundation. He helped build the foundation of U.S. and global immunization programs and contributed to reducing the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles.
"This award is one of the greatest honors of my career," Orenstein said in his acceptance speech. "What matters is that actual immunization, rather than the vaccine itself, saves lives." He added, "Efforts must continue to build trust in vaccines and break down barriers that prevent higher vaccination rates."
The other recipient, DCVMN, was recognized for strengthening vaccine manufacturing capacity in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and expanding global vaccine access. Its contributions to regulatory harmonization across countries and support for World Health Organization (WHO) prequalification (PQ) compliance were credited with building a foundation for high-quality, low-cost vaccine supply and enhancing the resilience of global supply chains.
"This award recognizes the contributions our member companies have made in developing and producing COVID-19 vaccines," DCVMN CEO Rajinder Suri said. "During the pandemic, we supplied approximately 9.8 billion doses of vaccines, accounting for more than 60% of global production." He added, "We will continue to strengthen our capacity to respond to global health crises through innovation and collaboration."
"Immunization works most effectively when policy and manufacturing capacity advance together," IVI Director General Jerome Kim said. "Professor Orenstein has advanced vaccine equity through evidence-based policy, while DCVMN has done so through expanded manufacturing capacity." He added, "IVI expresses its gratitude for SK bioscience's support and cooperation in advancing vaccine innovation and global equity."
"It is meaningful to shine a light on global leaders who have contributed to the development of the vaccine ecosystem, carrying forward the spirit of the late Vice Chairman Park Mahn-hoon," President Ahn said. "We will continue to expand vaccine access and build a stable supply system based on global cooperation, contributing to public health."
The Park Mahn-hoon Award was established in 2021 to honor the achievements of the late Vice Chairman Park Mahn-hoon, who contributed to the development of the vaccine industry. Since then, the award has recognized individuals and institutions that have made significant contributions across various fields, including vaccine research and development, policy and distribution.
