The UK Government has launched a new Pandemic Preparedness Partnership (PPP) to save lives from future diseases and prevent another global pandemic.
The PPP will advise the UK G7 Presidency on how to meet the Prime Minister’s ambition to slash the time to develop and deploy high quality vaccines for new diseases from 300 to 100 days, backed by additional funding to support CEPI’s work on global vaccine supply. It will be chaired by the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance.
The public-private partnership will bring together industry, international organizations, and leading experts. They will provide recommendations for delivering ambitious targets to more quickly develop vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics through greater global co-operation on research and development, manufacturing, clinical trials and data-sharing.
The £16 million investment will fund global vaccine manufacturing capacity and critical research and development to rapidly respond to the threat of new strains, supporting the development of new variant-specific vaccines. CEPI’s work to coordinate research, development and manufacturing of vaccines will aid efforts to have millions of doses of vaccine available for emergency use 100 days from a variant of concern being identified.
The PPP is meeting formally for the first time today at a two day virtual Pandemic Preparedness Partnership Conference, taking place under the UK’s Presidency of the G7.
Melinda Gates, philanthropist and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said, “The global response to COVID-19 has proved that we are most successful when we bring together scientists, businesses, governments, and collective action through multilateral institutions. This partnership will enable G7 governments to create a roadmap for building a safe, secure, and equitable future for everyone.
The Partnership will report to leaders at June’s G7 Summit in Cornwall with a roadmap outlining the steps the G7 could take to protect people against future pandemics.
Read the full announcement here.
