Today\u2019s episode features Professor Allen Cheng, the Director of the Infection Prevention and Healthcare Epidemiology unit at Alfred Health, Professor of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology at Monash University and the Chair of the Advisory Committee on Vaccines to the Therapeutic Goods Administration and an infectious diseases physician.\xa0
He is also known to many for his year-long secondment as the Deputy Chief Health Officer of Victoria from July 2020 \u2013 June 2021. As Professor Cheng says in today\u2019s episode, he has a \u201cvery specific skill set.\u201d An infectious diseases clinician specialising in respiratory infections and flu vaccine effectiveness, he was expertly qualified to lead Victoria\u2019s public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic.\xa0
Professor Cheng talks about the challenges of transitioning from a researcher and clinician to public health practitioner, and the lessons he learnt in the process. He advocates for innovative approaches to public health preparedness, like a \u201cpublic health reservist core,\u201d and talks about how governments can and should effectively buy and use vaccines and COVID treatments.\xa0
It\u2019s a fascinating discussion and we hope you join the conversation @CentreHealthSec