Flickr: European Commission DG ECHO
While the Ebola outbreak in West Africa may not be making daily headlines anymore, don’t be fooled- the threat is still as real as ever. As of December 15, the death toll was up to 6,841, with a total of 18,464 people infected.
For that reason, Global Citizen partner, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance has stepped up to the plate.
On December 11th, Gavi made an exciting announcement: as soon as the World Health Organization approves a vaccine for use, Gavi will purchase millions of doses to support large-scale vaccination efforts.
This is huge because even with the availability of a safe and effective vaccine, the slightest delay in reaching those in need could have serious consequences. By preparing to purchase the vaccine ahead of time, the Vaccine Alliance is making sure that these delays are minimized and encouraging manufacturers to continue development of a vaccine.
The commitment
Gavi’s plan is two-fold:
First, its board has agreed to spend up to US $300 million on vaccines to be used to immunize at risk populations in affected countries.
Second, up to an additional US $90 million could be used to support countries in rolling out the vaccine and rebuilding the devastated health systems, including health worker training and social mobilization.
Looking ahead
As we work together as a global community to tackle this outbreak and rebuild the health systems in affected countries, it’s important we keep one thing in mind: addressing the problem in West Africa is the only way to prevent the virus from spreading. And, though the problem remains serious, we have every reason to feel optimistic.
Currently, we’re all waiting for an approved Ebola vaccine. But, two manufacturers have promising candidates undergoing human trials, and more manufacturers will be joining them soon.
By allocating funds to purchase the vaccine and help countries roll out the vaccine, Gavi is ensuring more lives will be saved.
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