The Day of Immunology 2021

Abstract

Today, the DoI is jointly supported by the International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS) and EFIS that award prizes to national societies and/or regional federations for the best international and European public awareness campaigns – see here for more information on the prizes and past campaigns. Each year, a theme is chosen to highlight different immunological topics. The theme of the 2021 DoI naturally had to address the one topic that united us globally: COVID-19. To mark the occasion, IUIS and EFIS teamed up to host a joint event as a first for the DoI! Two projects with the overall arching theme of COVID-19 were conceived: firstly, a webinar bringing together experts in the field of COVID-19 research and vaccine development, followed by a panel discussion with immunologists, microbiologists and epidemiologists from around the world to discuss their local experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Secondly, a social media video project, #ThankYouImmunology, realised together with young EFIS (yEFIS) and Immunopaedia, in which early career immunologists helped to celebrate the 2021 DoI by providing their thoughts on a series of questions designed to celebrate and give thanks to immunology. The Day of Immunology Webinar 2021