UK hosts virtual global vaccine summit to secure funding for virus jab

The UK organised the Global Vaccine Summit 2020 on Thursday (June 4) to lend its support to secure £6 billion funding to aid global virus vaccine supply and immunisation.

The virtual event witnessed representatives of over 50 countries and country leaders, including Indian prime minister Narendra Modi.

The summit pledged its support to Gavi, the global vaccine alliance, in its commitment to help save up to eight million lives over the next five years.

Gavi’s routine immunisation efforts, including during the course of the coronavirus pandemic, help stop the spread of infectious diseases and the resurgence of other epidemics.

If a safe and effective coronavirus vaccine is developed, it will also have a role in its delivery around the world. Global access will ensure a collective international recovery.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “I hope this summit will be the moment when the world comes together to unite humanity in the fight against disease. I urge you to join us to fortify this lifesaving alliance and inaugurate a new era of global health co-operation, which I believe is now the most essential shared endeavour of our lifetimes."

Gavi, has immunised over 760 million children in the world’s poorest countries, saving more than 13 million lives. It holds a 'pledging conference' every five years to raise funds for its next strategic period; the summit secured funding for 2021-2025.

India committed $15million (£12m) to Gavi over the next five years.

According to Gavi, India is the only country that has moved from being a recipient to a donor. The country is also now its largest manufacturer, accounting for more than 60 per cent of Gavi vaccines.

The UK has supported Gavi since its inception in 2000 and is its largest donor, with a pledge of £1.65 billion for the next five years.

UK – India collaboration around a possible coronavirus vaccine includes a consortium comprising Serum Institute, Gates Foundation, MIT, and Spy Biotech (a UK based biotech company) is trying to develop a vaccine using the new spy-tag vaccine development technology.

Oxford Nanopore is working with some of India’s most renowned scientific institutions to focus on rapid analysis of Covid-19 samples.

A long-term Merck and Wellcome Trust venture on vaccine research, policy and manufacturing will be based in Delhi.