Latest news with #Covax
Mint
26-05-2025
- Health
- Mint
No one's safe until everyone's safe: This covid mantra retains relevance
The covid crisis taught the world fundamental lessons about the importance of global cooperation to fight disease. But that cooperation is under strain, as are the conditions needed to sustain it. Future funding for health and science is being called into question, and cuts to development assistance by some traditional donors are casting doubt on our ability to prevent and respond to infectious diseases in the world's most fragile countries. To ensure future resilience to pandemics, these gaps must be filled. The key to success lies in strong, innovative new partnerships between multinational organizations, private- and public-sector institutions and civil society. We already know from recent experience that strong global partnerships work. Five years ago, we managed to overcome vaccine nationalism (the hoarding of limited supplies) in formulating the global response to covid. Also Read: The princess who built India's healthcare system Gavi, a global alliance of public, private and civil-society groups, partnered with the European Investment Bank Group, which is the financing arm of the European Union, owned by its 27 member states, to mobilize €600 million ($720 million) in donor funding toward the Covax initiative. Without this funding, Covax would not have been able to move at the speed and scale that ultimately delivered nearly two billion vaccine doses. More than 100 (mainly) developing countries benefited because we had the foresight to respond to the pandemic cooperatively. Nor were the benefits confined to these countries. Recall the mantra of the pandemic: 'No one is safe, until everyone is safe.' More widespread and prolonged shutdowns meant greater disruptions to supply chains and the global economy. The faster we could provide access to testing, monitoring and contact-tracing technologies, the better our ability to detect new variants of the virus and adapt accordingly. It was laboratory technicians in South Africa who first identified and called attention to the notorious Omicron variant. Also Read: Healthcare for all: Don't rely on insurance alone Recognizing the imperative to be even better prepared for the next pandemic, we have continued to build on this previous success. The European Investment Bank is providing Gavi with €1 billion in liquidity to accelerate access to vaccines for viruses with pandemic potential (such as Ebola) and to support routine vaccination against preventable diseases like measles, malaria and the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is globally a leading cause of cervical cancer. A new vaccine against tuberculosis could also be on the horizon. This innovative approach has also inspired others and catalysed their efforts. For example, the G7 development- finance institutions, together with the European Investment Bank, MedAccess, and the International Finance Corporation, are working on a new surge-funding instrument to mobilize vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics and other medical goods that low- and lower-middle income countries will need to respond to future pandemics. Boosting regional vaccine production is a critical priority. Africa accounts for 20% of the world's population, but produces just 0.1% of the world's supply of vaccines. Building the continent's vaccine-manufacturing base is a key part of any strategy to strengthen overall pandemic preparedness. Here, too, the European Investment Bank's partnership and financial innovation are a game changer. Gavi's $1.2 billion African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator—backed by over €750 million from European governments, as well as institutions including the European Investment Bank—is designed to dismantle barriers to local vaccine production. To help Africa achieve vaccine sovereignty, the European Investment Bank is also directly financing production facilities in Ghana, South Africa, and Senegal, through the Institut Pasteur de Dakar. Also Read: PM-JAY: A successful model for both healthcare delivery and financial security By combining our expertise, the European Investment Bank-Gavi partnership helps countries build stronger health systems and improve their ability to respond to pandemics and save lives. As leaders of mission-driven organizations, we know that protecting global health demands bold action. By investing in innovation and ensuring that resources reach those who need them most, we can reduce the risk of future outbreaks, safeguard communities and create a world where health crises no longer derail lives and livelihoods. Viruses don't care about politics, visas, tariffs or wars. They respond to tough immune systems and effective vaccines. If we fail to ensure that all countries have the resources they need to identify new outbreaks and respond quickly, we will all be at risk. We cannot protect ourselves, our loved ones or our economies without global cooperation. Investing in innovative global health partnerships is our best defence against the next big outbreak, implying large returns in terms of worldwide stability and security. ©2025/Project Syndicate The author are, respectively, president of European Investment Bank and CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
Newsweek
13-05-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Doctor Mike: One Mile to Go, One Myth to Debunk—the Race to Eradication
Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. What if I told you there's a preventative health measure that has saved more lives than almost any other medical intervention in history? That it's rigorously tested and remarkably cost-effective? That sounds like it would be universally celebrated, right? A few weeks ago, I found myself surrounded by 17 people who were deeply skeptical of this particular intervention—many of them passionately shared emotional stories as well as debunked or fringe rhetoric. As you've probably guessed, I am talking about vaccines. As a family physician, I joined this profession because I believe in harnessing the power of science to save lives, but science alone can't finish the job. Today, two forces slow vaccine progress: limited access and viral misinformation. Palestinian Health Ministry staff members receive 300,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines provided by UNICEF through the Covax vaccine-sharing initiative, in Salem east of Nablus, on August 24, 2021. Palestinian Health Ministry staff members receive 300,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines provided by UNICEF through the Covax vaccine-sharing initiative, in Salem east of Nablus, on August 24, 2021. JAAFAR ASHTIYEH/AFP via Getty Images In early 2017, I came to a stark realization. The absence of qualified medical experts online created an easy opportunity for bad actors to mislead the public. I took action and began sharing evidence-based information on YouTube where I counter dangerous myths and misinformation to a now growing audience of 14 million subscribers. But debunking myths is only half the battle; getting vaccine shots into arms matters just as much. That's why I recently teamed up with UNICEF USA as their newest ambassador. UNICEF procures more vaccines than anyone on Earth—over 2 billion doses a year—shielding nearly half of the world's children. Together, we're working to make sure the other half gets the same shot at a healthy future. A Dose of Good News Let's start with the facts: Vaccines save lives. A 2024 study published in The Lancet estimated that vaccines have saved 154 million lives over the past 50 years. That's six people every minute, every day, for five decades. Vaccines don't just prevent disease—they extend life, reduce suffering, and protect entire communities. The victories speak for themselves. Take smallpox: a vicious virus that once claimed millions every year, now gone for good—officially erased in 1980 by the very tool some folks still doubt. Next up is polio. Wild poliovirus currently survives in only two countries—Afghanistan and Pakistan—where UNICEF's vaccine efforts are closing in on complete eradication. Measles tells a similar success story—global deaths have plummeted by more than 80 percent since 2000, all thanks to a simple two-dose vaccine. However, progress isn't permanent. In February, a 6-year-old in Texas became the first U.S. measles fatality in decades after a cluster of cases spread through an under-vaccinated community. The loss is heartbreaking and a painful reminder that we must strive to keep immunity high or risk seeing once-defeated viruses make their return. Two Big Barriers: Access and Misinformation Vaccines only work if they reach the people who need them. That's why I'm proud to be a UNICEF ambassador—because children everywhere deserve to be healthy, educated, protected, and respected. I am committed to supporting the organization's important global work. Dedicated health care workers deliver vaccines in the world's most remote locations, by boat, motorcycle, or even horseback. In places like Kyrgyzstan, UNICEF staff ride hours into remote villages to deliver measles vaccines. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, health teams are delivering cutting-edge vaccines to children who remain vulnerable to diseases such as mpox. The other vaccine challenge is communication. The internet has made it easier than ever to spread emotionally charged misinformation and pseudoscience. That's exactly why I decided to sit down with 17 vaccine skeptics and why over 100 million people watched the video and its respective clips. Misinformation grabs clicks, but clear, respectful communication can still draw in the hesitant and undecided. It is important to listen to concerns with empathy, but it's more important to respond with facts and science. With my platform, I feel a responsibility to be a bridge between the public and the medical community to rebuild trust—especially for people who feel overlooked, unheard, or simply confused. Science will continue to evolve, and we will always be learning. But for these vaccine-preventable illnesses, we know what works. We have the science. We just need to ensure that neither misinformation nor lack of access slows the incredible progress that vaccines have given us. Every dose UNICEF and its partners deliver moves us closer to ending preventable disease and gives each child a fair shot at a full, healthy life, while every myth we dispel and question we answer strengthens the well-being and resilience of our entire community. Doctor Mike (Dr. Mikhail Varshavski) is the world's most-followed physician and a powerhouse voice for medical truth. UNICEF USA recently named him as its newest ambassador. Doctor Mike's mission is to protect children's health and dismantle dangerous medical myths to his audience of over 25 million global followers. The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Gavi: vaccine alliance facing US funding cuts
The Gavi vaccine alliance, which proudly claims it vaccinates more than half the world's children against deadly and debilitating diseases, is now seemingly next in line for US funding cuts. The United States is reportedly set to axe its funding as President Donald Trump slashes foreign aid spending -- a move Gavi says could cost more than a million lives. Despite its important role, Gavi is little known among the general public. Here is an overview of what it does, and how US funding cuts could impact its operations and child health worldwide: - Gavi's mission and set-up - Founded in 2000 as the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation, Gavi was created to provide vaccines to developing countries. The United States has been on board from the start, as one of the six original donor countries. It now contributes around 15 percent of the regular budget. A public-private partnership, Gavi is a non-profit organisation based in Geneva. It works closely with the UN health and children's agencies -- the World Health Organization and UNICEF -- the World Bank and the Gates Foundation, as well as vaccine manufacturers, research agencies and vaccine-administering countries. Its chief executive Sania Nishtar is a medical doctor and former minister and senator in Pakistan. Former EU chief Jose Manuel Barroso chairs the board. - Impact of US pullout - Nishtar said the US cutting its funding would have a "disastrous impact" on global health security and potentially result in more than a million deaths from preventable diseases. Some 97 percent of Gavi's funding goes directly to vaccination programmes, meaning that if 15 percent of the budget goes, vaccination campaigns will suffer. Over 2026-2030, Gavi aims to protect 500 million children against 20 or so diseases -- so by its calculations, 75 million fewer children would be vaccinated. And if around nine million lives would be saved, that number could drop by 1.3 million. Gavi is also worried about its ability to maintain its stockpiles of vaccines against diseases like Ebola, cholera and meningitis. - Budget and US funding - Its budget for the 2021-2025 cycle is over $21 billion -- swelled by more than $12 billion for the Covax scheme, which Gavi co-led in response to the Covid pandemic. Washington contributed $4 billion to Covax, and was its biggest funder. With Covax, US regular contributions and pledges for 2021-2025 amount to $1.19 billion. The United States has steadily increased its regular contributions to Gavi, from $48 million in 2001 to $300 million in 2024. "US global health assistance has emphasised ending preventable child deaths through high-impact, low-cost interventions," the alliance says. US contributions accounted for 10 percent of Gavi's funding in 2011-2015; 15 percent for 2016-2020; and 24 percent in 2021-2025, including Covax. But excluding Covax, the United States is the third-biggest contributor to Gavi, behind the Gates Foundation and Britain, covering about 15 percent of the budget. For the years 2026-2030, Washington made a five-year pledge of at least $1.58 billion. - Gavi's vaccines - Gavi supports vaccines against 20 infectious diseases, including Covid-19, Ebola, malaria, rabies, polio, cholera, typhoid and yellow fever. Gavi says that since its inception, it has helped immunise more than 1.1 billion children in 78 lower-income countries, "preventing more than 18.8 million future deaths". By June 2023 it had crossed the landmark of having helped provide roughly six billion vaccinations globally. According to its latest figures, more than 69 million children were vaccinated in 2023. The alliance says that for every dollar spent on vaccines between 2021 and 2030, $21 would be saved in healthcare costs, lost wages and lost productivity due to illness and death. - Covid jabs role - Gavi co-led Covax, the globally pooled Covid vaccine procurement and equitable distribution effort. The scheme to ensure Covid vaccines reached people in poorer countries wound up in December 2023. It delivered nearly two billion doses to 146 territories. Gavi estimates more than 2.7 million deaths were averted by Covax in low- and middle-income countries. rjm/jhb
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Preparing for the next pandemic is a global responsibility – the UK has a vital role to play
The Covid-19 pandemic was a powerful reminder that no country can stand alone in a global health crisis. It took unprecedented collaboration between governments, scientists, and industry to develop and deliver vaccines at speed. The UK played a leading role in this effort, from the rapid development of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to supporting global access through Covax – but now we risk being left behind. The UK has long been a global leader in life sciences. Its research institutions, scientists, and companies are at the forefront of medical innovation. But developing a vaccine is only half the battle – ensuring it can be produced at scale and distributed quickly is just as crucial. The UK's leadership in science must be matched by manufacturing capacity and strength. The Covid Inquiry has highlighted the need for onshore vaccine manufacturing to strengthen the UK's resilience in future pandemics. However, recent global developments raise concerns about long-term preparedness. If the UK is to maintain its position as a leader in global health, investment in vaccine manufacturing and stockpiling must remain a priority. In today's rapidly fragmenting world, it's a matter of self -reliance. Many countries are learning from the lessons of Covid-19 and strengthening their vaccine security. The European Union, through its Health Emergency and Preparedness Authority (HERA), is investing in advanced manufacturing capabilities to ensure vaccine supply during health emergencies. Our sister company, Bilthoven Biologicals, is part of this initiative, contributing to a European-wide preparedness with a new facility which has just opened in the Netherlands. We are continuing to grow and scale our efforts. At Serum Institute of India, we have built the world's largest pandemic preparedness facility, capable of producing between five and 10 billion doses in times of crisis, ensuring supply for India and beyond. We are also collaborating with organisations like CEPI for their 100 Days Mission, which aims to develop and deploy vaccines within 100 days of a new pandemic pathogen emerging. These efforts reflect a broader recognition that pandemic preparedness requires sustained investment. And in this, public-private collaboration is key; governments and the private sector must work together to strengthen vaccine manufacturing and research. Put simply: to ensure domestic manufacturing capacity remains strong and can rapidly scale up in a crisis, sustained government support is essential. At the same time, global commitments to health security must remain strong. The UK is reportedly considering cuts to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, while the United States has withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO) and significantly reduced the workforce of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) – a move that could weaken global pandemic preparedness efforts. These shifts risk undermining the very systems that helped combat Covid-19. The pandemic taught us that no country can stand alone in a health crisis. It also reminded us how even the strongest supply chains and bilateral agreements can face unexpected challenges. If we are to ensure global preparedness, governments must reinforce their commitments—not step away from them. This is why the UK must take steps to strengthen its capabilities and be ready to tackle any future health crisis. More than reacting to crises, pandemic preparedness is about shaping the future. The UK has long been a pioneer in global health, and this is a moment to lead. The choice is clear: invest now and be ready – or risk being caught unprepared when the next pandemic strikes. With the right investments, the UK can be sure that when the next global health emergency comes, vaccines reach all those who need them, quickly and equitably. The window for action is now. By acting today, the UK can help create a world that never faces the same supply chain struggles, delays, and inequities that defined the last pandemic. The world will be watching – let's make sure history looks back on this moment as one where we got it right. Adar Poonawalla is chief executive officer of the Serum Institute of India Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
19-02-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Preparing for the next pandemic is a global responsibility – the UK has a vital role to play
The Covid-19 pandemic was a powerful reminder that no country can stand alone in a global health crisis. It took unprecedented collaboration between governments, scientists, and industry to develop and deliver vaccines at speed. The UK played a leading role in this effort, from the rapid development of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to supporting global access through Covax – but now we risk being left behind. The UK has long been a global leader in life sciences. Its research institutions, scientists, and companies are at the forefront of medical innovation. But developing a vaccine is only half the battle – ensuring it can be produced at scale and distributed quickly is just as crucial. The UK's leadership in science must be matched by manufacturing capacity and strength. The Covid Inquiry has highlighted the need for onshore vaccine manufacturing to strengthen the UK's resilience in future pandemics. However, recent global developments raise concerns about long-term preparedness. If the UK is to maintain its position as a leader in global health, investment in vaccine manufacturing and stockpiling must remain a priority. In today's rapidly fragmenting world, it's a matter of self -reliance. Many countries are learning from the lessons of Covid-19 and strengthening their vaccine security. The European Union, through its Health Emergency and Preparedness Authority (HERA), is investing in advanced manufacturing capabilities to ensure vaccine supply during health emergencies. Our sister company, Bilthoven Biologicals, is part of this initiative, contributing to a European-wide preparedness with a new facility which has just opened in the Netherlands. We are continuing to grow and scale our efforts. At Serum Institute of India, we have built the world's largest pandemic preparedness facility, capable of producing between five and 10 billion doses in times of crisis, ensuring supply for India and beyond. We are also collaborating with organisations like CEPI for their 100 Days Mission, which aims to develop and deploy vaccines within 100 days of a new pandemic pathogen emerging. These efforts reflect a broader recognition that pandemic preparedness requires sustained investment. And in this, public-private collaboration is key; governments and the private sector must work together to strengthen vaccine manufacturing and research. Put simply: to ensure domestic manufacturing capacity remains strong and can rapidly scale up in a crisis, sustained government support is essential. At the same time, global commitments to health security must remain strong. The UK is reportedly considering cuts to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, while the United States has withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO) and significantly reduced the workforce of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) – a move that could weaken global pandemic preparedness efforts. These shifts risk undermining the very systems that helped combat Covid-19. The pandemic taught us that no country can stand alone in a health crisis. It also reminded us how even the strongest supply chains and bilateral agreements can face unexpected challenges. If we are to ensure global preparedness, governments must reinforce their commitments—not step away from them. This is why the UK must take steps to strengthen its capabilities and be ready to tackle any future health crisis. More than reacting to crises, pandemic preparedness is about shaping the future. The UK has long been a pioneer in global health, and this is a moment to lead. The choice is clear: invest now and be ready – or risk being caught unprepared when the next pandemic strikes. With the right investments, the UK can be sure that when the next global health emergency comes, vaccines reach all those who need them, quickly and equitably. The window for action is now. By acting today, the UK can help create a world that never faces the same supply chain struggles, delays, and inequities that defined the last pandemic. The world will be watching – let's make sure history looks back on this moment as one where we got it right.
