Book signing with Philippe Sansonetti

To mark the publication of Philippe Sansonetti's new book Vaccins ("Vaccines"), you are all welcome to come and meet the author at a signing session held by the publisher Éditions Odile Jacob and the Institut Pasteur on Tuesday March 7, 2017.

The book by Philippe Sansonetti, Head of the Molecular Microbial Pathogenesis Unit and a professor at the Institut Pasteur and the Collège de France, looks back to a time without vaccines, less than a century ago, and reminds us of the human cost of diphtheria, polio, tuberculosis, measles and Spanish influenza.

With the introduction of vaccines and antibiotics, the passive acceptance of these scourges, which in 1900 claimed the lives of 15% of children before their first birthday, gave way to widespread protection against the main infectious diseases.

However, this widespread protection is now under threat as a result of a prevailing mistrust of vaccines and the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Almost half of French people are currently wary of vaccines, doubting that they are really harmless and effective.

This book signing will take place in the "Salle des Actes" in partnership with the bookshop La Cédille, from 5.30 to 8pm. The Museum will be open for this occasion.

Christian Bréchot, President of the Institut Pasteur, will give a speech at 6pm.