Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare Infectious Diseases Expert Wins Lifetime Achievement Award for Vaccinology Research

Prof. Jaffar Al-Tawfiq was recognized for his contributions to COVID-19 and Hajj vaccinology research.

An infectious diseases expert at Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare  received a lifetime achievement award honoring his contributions to vaccinology research.

Prof. Jaffar Al-Tawfiq, Consultant of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases and Director of Infection Prevention and Control at Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement in Vaccinology award at the 8th Saudi International Vaccination Forum.

The award, the most prestigious to be granted at the forum, recognizes individuals whose research has had a significant and lasting impact on vaccine science, policy or implementation. It also acknowledges their dedication to advancing public health through effective vaccination strategies.

The 8th Saudi International Vaccination Forum, which took place in Riyadh earlier this month, was organized by the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs and King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences.

Prof. Al-Tawfiq has an exceptional, years-long record of scholarship and leadership in vaccinology, spanning more than 100 peer-reviewed publications that collectively address key vaccinepreventable diseases and vaccination policies in Saudi Arabia and beyond.

His work on pertussis has directly informed national policy, with one pivotal study indicating that the adoption of dTap vaccination for pregnant women and adults in Saudi Arabia would improve protection for mothers and newborn children.

He has contributed a comprehensive portfolio of COVID-19 research, including studies on vaccine perceptions and side effects, determinants of acceptance and hesitancy in both children and adults, and safety. His work on COVID-19 vaccines also included studies on reactogenicity of various vaccine platforms, including heterologous prime–boost schedules, and outcomes of breakthrough infections in vulnerable groups such as solid organ transplant recipients.

Beyond COVID-19, he is a regional and global authority on Hajj-related immunization, documenting immunization coverage, and barriers among pilgrims, defining vaccine requirements and preparedness strategies, and characterizing the epidemiology and carriage dynamics of pathogens such as Streptococcus pneumoniae during mass gatherings.

His body of work is rounded out by important contributions on Mpox perceptions and vaccine advocacy, persistence of anti‑SARS‑CoV‑2 antibodies, de‑isolation strategies for vaccinated health care workers and multi‑society guidance on vaccination for healthcare workers.

At the 7th Saudi International Vaccination Forum in Riyadh, Prof. Al-Tawfiq received the Saudi Vaccine Award for Vaccine Research and Innovation. In October 2024, he received an Excellence in Health Research Lifetime Achievement Award from the Saudi Research, Development & Innovation Authority.