Vaccine Alliance To Create Ebola Vaccine Stockpile
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published December 05, 2019 | 10:34 PM
Charity alliance Gavi said Thursday it would create a stockpile of 500,000 Ebola vaccines that low-income countries will be able to access for free as they attempt to battle outbreaks of the deadly virus
"This is a historic milestone in humanity's fight against this horrific disease," Gavi chairwoman Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said in a statement announcing the $178 million funding for the stockpile, which will be disbursed between now and 2025.
The stockpiling would start with rVSV-ZEBOV, which is manufactured by the US laboratory Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD) and was licensed by the European Commission last month.
"Any of the vaccine manufacturers are free to approach us. For a stockpile, that would only be licensed and WHO (World health Organization) pre-qualified vaccines," Gavi chief executive Seth Berkley told reporters in a dial-in press conference after a two-day meeting of the alliance's board in New Delhi.
"At the moment only Merck has met those two criteria.
And if J&J (Johnson & Johnson's anti-Ebola vaccine) was to meet those criteria as well, we would consider those vaccines as well." The alliance said it would also support preventive vaccination among high-risk populations, such as health workers.
The WHO prequalification programme is meant to cut costs by setting a minimum quality standard for cheaper drugs that could then be used by developing countries.
Seventy-three nations including the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is fighting an epidemic of Ebola in the east of the country, India and Indonesia will be able to access the stockpile for free.
The DRC has used two new vaccines -- rVSV-ZEBOV and J&J's drug -- to help contain the virus that has killed more than 2,000 people since in August 2018.
The Ebola virus is passed on by contact with the blood, body fluids, secretions or organs of an infected or recently deceased person.
The death rate is typically high, ranging up to 90 percent in some outbreaks, according to the WHO.
Recent Stories
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 26 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 26 April 2024
ICC Womens T20 World Cup Qualifier, Match 2: Ireland Women open with Comfortable ..
Robinson, bowlers help New Zealand go 2-1 up against Pakistan
Shahzeb Chachar to hold khuli kachehri on April 26
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
Tourism must change, mayor says as Venice launches entry fee
Court adjourns Judicial Complex attack case till May 17
Nasreen Noori’s book ‘Popatan Jahra Khwab’ launched
Wafaqi Mohtasib inspection team visits Excise and taxation office
AJLAC announces 5th Conference titled ‘People’s Mandate: Safeguarding Civil ..
Pak-US officials engage to enhance trade, investment ties
More Stories From Health
-
Vaccines save at least 154 million lives in 50 years: WHO
2 days ago -
UHS to issue MBBS degrees within three months after final result
2 days ago -
Rawalpindi woman gives birth to six babies
7 days ago -
DC calls for intensive anti-polio drive in ICT
8 days ago -
World Hemophilia Day observed to underscore importance of providing comprehensive care
9 days ago -
Six in a family with heart on the 'right side'
9 days ago
-
Diabetic disease increasing rapidly : Dr. Noor Elahi Memon
9 days ago -
World Hemophilia Day observed
9 days ago -
ATC dismisses bail petition of doctor involved in illegal kidneys transplant
17 days ago -
Dr. Shehzad warns against deviation from WHO guidelines on anti-smoking
17 days ago -
Health activists express concerns over attempts to derail tobacco control
19 days ago -
UHS declares MBBS first prof, MS urology exam results
28 days ago