100 years of infectious disease prevention and control at Denmark’s Statens Serum Institut

Denmark’s Statens Serum Institute (SSI) celebrated its centenary last week with an international symposium entitled ‘Vaccines for the 21st century – development and strategies’ (11-12 September), and the launch of a new website (http://www.ssi.dk/) (1). SSI was inaugurated on 9 September 1902 to ensure the production and supply of anti-diphtheria serum for Danish patients. Throughout its 100 year history, the institute has continuously applied research based knowledge to the prevention and control of infectious diseases and congenital disorders.