CEPI’s vital work to develop safe and effective vaccines against COVID-19 has been boosted by generous contributions from the governments of Belgium and Canada. The Government of Belgium has announced an investment of €5 million (US$5.5 million) while the Government of Canada has pledged CA$40 million (US$28.2 million).
Belgium and Canada join a coalition of nations which have responded to CEPI’s urgent call for $2bn of funding for COVID-19 vaccine development research.
Financial support has also been provided by Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway and the UK, and the total sum pledged now stands at over US$690 million.
Chief Executive Officer, CEPI
CEPI has worked at unprecedented speed to initiate eight COVID-19 vaccine development projects with Curevac, Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Moderna, Novavax, The University of Hong Kong, The University of Oxford, The University of Queensland and a consortium led by Institut Pasteur. The first clinical trial of a CEPI-supported vaccine is already underway, and CEPI’s ambition is to have at least three vaccine candidates which could be submitted to regulatory authorities for licensure for general use.
Ensuring equitable access to vaccines
When a vaccine becomes available there will be global demand, so it is vital that a system for equitable access is in place to ensure that those who most need the vaccine get priority access.
This is a challenge that must be urgently and collectively addressed by governments, global health leaders, and regulators while COVID-19 vaccine development is continuing. Global support for our partners at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, will be vital to ensure a vaccine, once developed, is rolled out worldwide.
Image credit: Themis