The series is co-sponsored by the Global Access in Action, a project at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University and the Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology, and Bioethics at Harvard Law School.
In order to achieve the objectives of global health organization policies those policies must be translated into actionable provisions and agreements. The Global Healthcare Innovation Alliance Accelerator endeavors to provide tools and guidance to organizations involved in those efforts. As the founder of GHIAA, Julia Barnes-Weise began consulting for the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) over a year ago.
Following the Ebola crisis and the regulatory hurdles faced by the international community for an effective response, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) was launched in 2017. CEPI’s mission is to prevent epidemics by supporting the development of vaccines against diseases with epidemic potential in cases where market incentives fail, and to support the capability to respond to novel pathogens with rapid vaccine development, if needed. CEPI has promoted access to epidemic vaccines to ensure the right vaccines are accessible to all people. CEPI has invited consultation on its revision of its Equitable Access policy paperwith a wide range of stakeholders with the following objectives: accelerate the process from development to delivery of quality vaccines; and establish effective procurement mechanisms for vaccines to all populations, and has very recently published its revised policy.
Julia Barnes-Weise discussed the challenges of achieving equitable access to vaccines in preparation for and in times of outbreak and CEPI’s approach in working towards its objectives.