The Foundation Doctor Balmis rewarding career the prestigious vacunólogo José Antonio Navarro.

First Awards engaged in Vaccinology, Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine

Doctor Balmis Foundation, created under the auspices of the Rotary Club, Alicante, sponsored by Esteve, created the awards that bear his name to distinguish the most important personalities in the field of Vaccinology, Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine in Spain. In this first edition, which has an annual continuity, it has been recognized professional work of Dr. José Antonio Navarro Alonso, currently Chief of Vaccinology, Prevention and Protection of Health of the Regional Government of Murcia.

Member of the Spanish Association of Vaccinology, Navarro Alonso is also part of the Vaccine Safety Project of the World Health Organization and the European Advisory Group on Vaccines and Immunizations, among many other agencies. Collected the award yesterday, Friday January 23 in Alicante, in the hands of Health Minister, Bernat Soria, and the presence of leading authorities from the health and social, that they support the philosophy of dedication and service to the community promotes Prize.

It should be stressed that the Foundation Doctor Balmis aims to disseminate the values they embody the character of this great figure of the eighteenth century, well recognized in the Latin American countries and the Philippines, but it is a great unknown in Spain and his homeland, Alicante.

Francisco Javier Balmis devoted his life to medicine and pioneered the study of applications of the vaccine, especially smallpox, considered one of the pests that have caused more death to the human species. Played one of the most striking gestures of Medicine, to disseminate the vaccine in an expedition philanthropic giving around the world. Precisely the Rotary International was inspired by the feat of Dr. Balmis for the Polio Plus campaign, through which virtually eradicated polio in the world, through the vaccination of hundreds of thousands of children.

The Award ceremony was held yesterday, January 23 at 21:30 am in the Hotel Sidi San Juan (Alicante), hosts of the Rotary Club of Alicante, currently chaired by Dr. Jorge Alió, who also chairs the Foundation Doctor Balmis.


Bet Esteve Vaccine
Esteve, sponsor of the Doctor Balmis Prize Foundation, is a chemical-pharmaceutical group leader in Spain and with a strong international presence. Today the group offers a comprehensive solution within the health sector with a variety of segments in which it is active. The presence in the field of vaccines Esteve was achieved on the one hand, through the market (since 2000) of a broad portfolio of vaccines in the fields of influenza and meningitis, and more recently through its incorporation into a project with the Catalan Center for Research and Development of AIDS Vaccine (HIVACAT), a public-private initiative focused on developing a vaccine for HIV.

Esteve has expanded its scope of action towards preventive medicine, in particular vaccines. Every day there are more diseases could be prevented by vaccines, and the initiative responds to the Awards Balmis Esteve social commitment.