Researchers work at the miguel – galilee institute in northern Israel on February 27, 2020.The Israeli ministry of science and technology announced the same day, the institute is developing a new coronavirus vaccine.(xinhua/gini)
Beijing, May 24 (xinhua) –While the world is looking forward to the early success of covid-19 vaccine development, international cooperation can provide “acceleration” in all aspects of vaccine development and production, from basic research and clinical trials to vaccine preparation, production and distribution.Extensive international cooperation from governments, international organizations, non-profit organizations, and businesses can promote rapid access to vaccines and contribute to equitable global access to vaccines once they are available.
Promoting rapid access to vaccines
In the battle against novel coronavirus, all aspects of vaccine development are in the “fast lane” compared with those of the past.
According to the world health organization, more than 120 vaccine candidates are being developed worldwide.According to the data provided by the bill & Melinda gates foundation in the United States, four vaccines have entered phase ii clinical trials, three vaccines are undergoing phase I and phase ii clinical trials at the same time, and two vaccines are undergoing phase I trials.
Who has launched the access to covid-19 tool accelerator international collaboration initiative to accelerate the development, production and equitable distribution of covid-19 vaccines, diagnostic and therapeutic tools.
“Vaccine research requires greater coordination in identifying vaccine candidates and establishing guidelines for vaccine efficacy and safety to support relevant certification in countries…Find the best way to eventually mass-produce a vaccine and vaccinate people.I am very pleased that the who has put in place a mechanism for this.”Dr David navarro, who director-general’s special envoy for covid-19 response and co-director of the institute for global health innovation at imperial college London, told xinhua.
The alliance for innovation in pandemic preparedness (CEPI) has also funded a number of vaccine development projects around the world in the wake of the covid-19 outbreak.As of May 11, the group had supported nine projects worth $448 million.CEPI CEO Richard hatchet said recently that there are three goals for the development of a covid-19 vaccine — speed, scale and accessibility: to develop a vaccine as soon as possible;After the successful development of a vaccine in the face of global demand, to increase the scale of production;Vaccines are available in rich, middle-income and poor countries around the world.
Experts say that in the face of the pandemic, a large supply of vaccine is needed to achieve widespread coverage.This poses significant challenges to the production and distribution of vaccines after development and requires strong international cooperation to ensure vaccine supplies.
Chinese companies have actively participated in building a global vaccine industry chain.For example, Shanghai fosun pharmaceutical group and BioNTech, a German company, have reached a cooperative intention to jointly promote the development of clinical trials and subsequent commercialization of mRNA covid-19 vaccine in China.
“In the future, if the vaccine is developed, China has a strong capacity in vaccine production, which can help the world to scale up the production of covid-19 vaccine faster, so as to protect healthy people from infection.”Xu xiaoning, professor of human immunology at imperial college London, told xinhua.
A screenshot of a video provided by the university of Oxford, UK, shows a volunteer taking part in a clinical trial of the coronavirus vaccine at the university of Oxford, UK, on April 23, 2020.(xinhua/ap)
Ensuring equitable access to vaccines
Viruses know no borders, and all peoples have the right to equal access to vaccines.International cooperation can help make vaccines equally accessible on a global scale.
The recently concluded 73rd world health assembly adopted a resolution stressing that priority should be given to ensuring equitable distribution of all high-quality basic health technologies needed to respond to the covid-19 pandemic, and that covid-19 vaccines should be included as global public health products.
“Once you have a vaccine, if you want to achieve universal immunization faster and more efficiently, then there are extremely complex issues of vaccine delivery that need to be coordinated and addressed, from capacity to price, to access and implementation of vaccination programs in individual countries.So how to mass produce a covid-19 vaccine for global benefit is something that must be considered now.””Said li yinuo, chief representative of the gates foundation in Beijing.
Due to technological backwardness and weak economic foundation, people in less developed areas and marginalized and impoverished populations are particularly vulnerable to covid-19.International multilateral organizations and mechanisms, including the g20, who, and the alliance for innovation in pandemic preparedness, are working for equitable global access to vaccine production, distribution, and protection of marginalized populations.
“We need a fair global distribution system that works for years after a vaccine is developed.The system requires funding, management and global support and collaboration.”Hatchett said a global pandemic is one that crosses borders, and countries cannot close themselves off. It is a collective effort to solve the problem.
The global alliance for vaccines and immunization (GAVI) has been working to promote vaccines around the world, especially in poor areas.Speaking at the global health and development media workshop, Seth berkley, CEO of the organization, which has funded the promotion of hepatitis b vaccines in China, said that China has moved from being a recipient of the organization to a donor in 2015, with high-quality, low-cost je vaccines made in China available to a number of countries in southeast Asia.The refrigeration storage technology of Chinese enterprises such as aokema and haier also provides great help for cold chain transportation of vaccines. “China has played a very important role in the global vaccine work”.
International aid for support from countries especially developing countries affected by the outbreak, to commitment to China’s new crown vaccine development completed and put into use after will serve as a global public goods, China has responded to by the practical action who initiative on global cooperation, in order to promote the fair distribution of relevant products, in an effort to maintain the global health security and the fight against the disease.
“Although the virus appears to have temporarily torn a hole in the international community, the common destiny of mankind is interdependence, not isolation.”From this perspective, the significance of the covid-19 vaccine is not only to save lives, but also to restore the global political and economic order.””Said Mr. Li.