The idea that a pandemic could have colossal consequences is not an unthinkable one. Not since Covid. To Willo Brock, representative to the EU at CEPI, the last pandemic was no surprise. CEPI was already creating a concept in case of a global threat. From authorising vaccines to distributing them. Working on pandemic preparedness has reinforced the importance of combining knowledge and striving for international collaboration, a lot of work which has been done through the Global Health Hub Netherlands. “Closing borders will not protect us. Working together will.”
Image: © CEPI
Discussion about the 100 Days’ Mission and Global Health Collaboration. Willo Brock (CEPI), Laurent Muschel, director of Health Emergency preparedness Response Agency for the EU (HERA) and Jozef Síkela, Commissioner for International Partnerships.
Fair access to vaccines within 100 days
CEPI's mission is to accelerate the development of vaccines and other biologic countermeasures against epidemic and pandemic threats. “We started with the development of vaccines”, Brock explains. “But throughout the years our work has also shifted to the question: how do we react as soon as possible in case of an emerging infectious disease? Eventually, the goal is to be able to develop safe, effective and accessible vaccines within 100 days of identifying a new pandemic threat.”
An ambitious goal, because it took about twenty years to develop and produce a vaccine. CEPI’s guiding principle is not just to respond but rather to prepare for a crisis. From vaccine development, initial authorisation, to manufacturing at scale. Their focus on global health means fair access to vaccines. The effect of major outbreaks on individuals and society was painfully illustrated in 2020 with the Covid pandemic. The philosophy is that being prepared for a possible pandemic will save lives, equip health services and soften the blow on societies and economies worldwide.
Planning for the future
CEPI started in 2017 in the wake of Ebola outbreaks in West Africa. In the three years before, Ebola killed more than 11,000 people. It also had an enormous economic and social impact estimated to be more than €45 billion. Scientists, governments and philanthropists pleaded for investing in health security because in time another epidemic or pandemic will occur and the world needs to be prepared for that. Brock explains: “The Ebola outbreak made it clear that there is an insufficient market incentive to prepare for these kinds of scenarios. Pandemics are unpredictable and the market does not like that. That’s where CEPI comes in.”
Since their start in 2017, CEPI has gotten approval for several vaccines and contributed to the distribution of them by bringing together public-sector, private-sector and academic partners. CEPI has built a vaccine pipeline and portfolio for diseases with the highest risks for a regional or global outbreak like Chikungunya, Lassa fever, Nipah, MERS, and of course Covid. Their involvement in the Global Health Hub Netherlands has mostly focused on international collaboration. Which is much needed to share knowledge.
"Collaborating on an international level is essential because viral threats do not stop at borders"
The international stage
“We see that certain countries have a lot of knowledge, like the Netherlands, that we can use in places where we don’t have those resources”, says Brock. “But collaborating on an international level is also essential because viral threats do not stop at borders. People often say: ‘We’re not safe until everyone is safe’. Without international collaboration, it’s impossible to prepare for potential threats. Pandemic preparedness can only be achieved through working together internationally, and beyond fields of expertise.”
Brock is not just referring to initiatives like the Global Health Hub, but also politics. He has seen a lot of resistance in politics in the past years to reach out internationally and invest in research. Despite the lessons we’ve learned from Covid. This has led to less funding for research, among other things. “Fortunately, collaborating with organisations like the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and meeting with the hubs in Germany, France and Belgium have made it possible to exchange crucial information”, says Brock. “Especially in a politically insecure time. Through the hub, we’ve been able to bring a lot to the table in terms of international discussions.”
A healthy planet
Brock hopes that the partners in the hub will continue to work together in research and development. Research that connects to the Communities of Practice themes of the Dutch Global Health Strategy will contribute to planetary health, he argues. He points out that the goal is not only more money. “In the end, we want to make sure that people are able to get the help they need, no matter their circumstances. Not to make profit, but for everyone’s health on this planet.”
Get in touch
Want to know more about CEPI? Visit their website. Do you have an idea for a new collaboration with CEPI, or would you simply like to get acquainted sometime soon? Contact Willo Brock via willo.brock@cepi.net.