SK Bioscience to Hold Nationwide Forum for Healthcare Professionals to Raise Awareness of Meningococcal Disease

Starting in Busan, touring Gwangju, Daegu, and Jeonju

SK Bioscience is holding a nationwide forum for medical professionals to raise awareness about the dangers of meningococcal disease and the importance of vaccination.

On March 12, SK Bioscience announced that, starting in Busan on March 5 and continuing through April 19, it will host academic forums in major regions such as Gwangju, Daegu, and Jeonju. These forums will target hospital and clinic medical professionals and share strategies for the prevention of meningococcal disease.

Susan Yoo, Director of Domestic Marketing at SK Bioscience, is delivering a greeting while explaining the forum schedule and its purpose. SK Bioscience

The purpose of the forum is to share information on the domestic and global incidence and spread of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD), highlight the need for vaccination, and discuss practical prevention strategies that can be used in clinical settings. In the first forum held in Busan, Professor Park Sueun of Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital will serve as chair, leading lectures and discussions to share the latest academic information with medical professionals.

Meningococcal infection is a severe bacterial disease that can cause acute meningitis or sepsis, and is characterized by its ability to worsen rapidly within hours of onset. The disease has a high fatality rate, and even survivors may suffer serious aftereffects such as hearing loss, neurological disorders, or limb amputation, underscoring the importance of vaccination. The risk of infection is especially high in group living environments, such as dormitories or military service.

The forum will also present clinical data and real-world cases involving 'MenQuadfi®', a quadrivalent conjugate vaccine that protects against meningococcal serogroups A, C, W, and Y. MenQuadfi was developed by the global biopharmaceutical company Sanofi, and SK Bioscience is responsible for supplying the vaccine to infants and young children in Korea. This conjugate vaccine covers major meningococcal serogroups and can be administered as early as 6 weeks of age, expanding vaccination options for infants and young children.

Professor Park Sueun, who chaired the first session, stated, "While awareness of meningococcal disease remains relatively low in Korea, overseas there is a growing movement to recommend vaccination for adolescents and young adults. I hope this forum will serve as an opportunity to share the latest insights with local medical professionals and help spread a culture of prevention-focused response to infectious diseases."

Kang Sumin, Director of Saessak Pediatrics and Adolescents Clinic in Busan, who attended the event, said, "Although meningococcal disease is not very common, it can be fatal when it occurs, making preemptive action through vaccination extremely important. In particular, medical professionals need to actively provide guidance for adolescents and those in group living environments."

Susan Yoo, Director of Domestic Marketing at SK Bioscience, said, "Meningococcal disease is unpredictable and progresses rapidly, so vaccination is the most effective means of response. Through academic exchanges with medical professionals nationwide, we will continue to raise awareness about the disease and support the active use of prevention strategies, including MenQuadfi, in clinical practice."

SK Bioscience plans to continue expanding academic activities and educational programs for medical professionals to enhance awareness of infectious disease prevention, thereby contributing to the improvement of the domestic vaccination environment.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.