COALITION OF EPIDEMIC PREPAREDNESS INNOVATIONS
Source: PIB
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Context
- Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated Asia’s first health research-related "Pre-clinical Network Facility" under the CEPI at the Regional Centre of Biotechnology under the aegis of the "Translational Health Science & Technology Institute" (THSTI), Faridabad.
Details
- CEPI has selected BRIC-THSTI as a pre-clinical network laboratory based on its capability to handle BSL3 pathogens.
- It will be the 9th such network laboratory across the globe and the first such laboratory in the whole of Asia.
- The other labs are located in the USA, Europe and Australia.
- The experimental Animal Facility is one of the largest small animal facility in the country with a housing capacity of about 75,000 mice, including immune compromised mice and other species such as rat, rabbit, hamsters, guinea pigs etc.
Translational Health Science and Technology Institute
|
CEPI
- The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is a global partnership formed in 2017 to accelerate the development of vaccines and other biologic countermeasures against epidemic and pandemic disease threats.
- CEPI aims to ensure equitable access to these vaccines and has been instrumental in the fight against emerging infectious diseases.
Mission and Objectives
- CEPI's primary mission is to develop vaccines for diseases with epidemic potential and to establish platforms for rapid vaccine development.
- One of their key goals is the "100 Days Mission," which seeks to develop safe, effective, and globally accessible vaccines within 100 days of recognizing a new epidemic threat​​.
Key Achievements and Activities
- Vaccine Development: CEPI has supported the development of over 50 vaccine candidates against high-risk pathogens like Lassa fever, Nipah virus, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2. Notably, CEPI was a major player in funding and supporting the development of COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic​​.
- Funding and Partnerships: CEPI's initial funding came from countries like Norway, Japan, and Germany, along with significant contributions from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust. By 2022, they had raised substantial additional funds to continue their mission. CEPI has also partnered with organizations like the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to boost regional preparedness and response capabilities​.
- Global Collaboration: CEPI collaborates with various international partners, including governments, research institutions, and the private sector, to enhance global health security. This includes their work with the Gavi Alliance to target future disease outbreaks and improve vaccine distribution logistics​.
Recent Initiatives
- AI and Vaccine Research: CEPI has funded projects utilizing artificial intelligence to predict and combat viral threats. For example, they have invested in platforms designed to protect against rapidly evolving viruses using AI technology​.
- Regional Preparedness: In 2024, CEPI signed a Memorandum of Understanding with PAHO to enhance epidemic and pandemic preparedness in Latin America and the Caribbean. This collaboration focuses on increasing vaccine development, manufacturing capacity, and improving disease surveillance and response​.
Funding Model
- CEPI employs innovative funding mechanisms, such as vaccine bonds, to secure and frontload financial commitments from sovereign donors.
- These funds are crucial for supporting long-term vaccine development projects and ensuring readiness for future epidemics​.
Global Initiatives Related To Pandemic Response
Initiative |
Description |
Key Actions |
Achievements & Challenges |
Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) |
CEPI is a global partnership launched in 2017 to develop vaccines to stop future epidemics. It focuses on financing and coordinating the development of vaccines against high-priority public health threats. |
- Rapid vaccine development - Equitable vaccine distribution - Collaboration with WHO and other health organizations |
- Successfully developed COVID-19 vaccines in record time. - Faces challenges in ensuring equitable vaccine distribution, particularly in low-income countries. |
Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) |
GHSA is a group of countries, international organizations, and NGOs launched in 2014 to enhance global health security and prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats. |
- Strengthening health systems - Promoting global collaboration - Enhancing disease surveillance |
- Improved global disease surveillance and response capabilities. - Coordination among diverse stakeholders remains complex. |
Pandemic Fund |
Established by the G20, the Pandemic Fund aims to provide financial resources to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response capabilities in low- and middle-income countries. |
- Fund allocation for health infrastructure - Support for vaccine development and distribution |
- Mobilized significant financial resources for pandemic response. - Effectiveness depends on the efficient allocation and utilization of funds. |
World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund |
A global fund established to support WHO’s work in tracking and understanding the spread of the virus, ensuring patients get the care they need, and providing frontline workers with essential supplies and information. |
- Resource mobilization - Supporting healthcare systems - Ensuring supply chains for essential medical supplies |
- Played a critical role in funding the global COVID-19 response. - Faced challenges in disbursing funds rapidly and effectively across different regions. |
COVAX Facility |
COVAX, co-led by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, CEPI, and WHO, is a global initiative aimed at equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. |
- Vaccine procurement and distribution - Ensuring fair allocation of vaccines globally |
- Successfully delivered millions of vaccine doses worldwide. - Struggled with initial vaccine supply shortages and logistical challenges in vaccine distribution. |
Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria |
Although primarily focused on AIDS, TB, and malaria, the Global Fund has integrated pandemic preparedness into its broader health system strengthening efforts. |
- Health system strengthening - Supporting countries in pandemic preparedness |
- Enhanced health system resilience in many countries. - Faces challenges in balancing pandemic preparedness with its core mission of fighting AIDS, TB, and malaria. |
Pandemic Emergency Financing Facility (PEF) |
Launched by the World Bank, PEF provides surge financing to support response efforts in IDA-eligible countries during outbreaks. |
- Quick disbursement of funds - Financial support for outbreak response |
- Facilitated rapid response during outbreaks. - Criticized for complex activation criteria and delays in fund disbursement. |
G20 Global Health Summit |
The G20 Global Health Summit convenes world leaders to discuss and commit to actions on pandemic preparedness and response, emphasizing global solidarity and coordinated actions. |
- Political commitments to health security - Financial pledges for pandemic response |
- Strengthened international political commitment to pandemic preparedness. - Translating commitments into tangible actions remains a challenge. |
United Nations High-Level Meetings (UNHLM) |
UNHLMs on pandemic prevention and response gather heads of state to discuss and endorse strategies for global health security, including mechanisms to enhance cooperation and coordination among nations. |
- Adoption of political declarations - Establishment of international frameworks for pandemic preparedness |
- Promoted global consensus on pandemic response strategies. - Implementation and enforcement of agreed measures can be inconsistent among member states. |
Global Health Security Index (GHSI) |
GHSI assesses countries' health security and capabilities to handle infectious disease outbreaks, providing a comprehensive benchmarking tool for improving national and global health security. |
- Regular assessment and ranking of countries - Identifying gaps in health security capabilities |
- Raised awareness of the need for strong health security systems. - Some countries have questioned the accuracy and relevance of the assessments. |
ACT-Accelerator |
The Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator is a global collaboration to accelerate development, production, and equitable access to COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines. |
- Coordinated global efforts for COVID-19 response - Supported research and development of COVID-19 countermeasures |
- Facilitated rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. - Ensured access to essential tools, though equitable distribution remains a challenge, especially in low-income countries. |
Comparing The Terms Related To Occurrence Of Diseases
Term |
Definition |
Characteristics |
Examples |
Pandemic |
A global outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects an exceptionally high proportion of the population. |
- Widespread across multiple countries or continents - High transmission rates - Significant impact on global health and economies |
COVID-19 (2019-present), Spanish Flu (1918-1919), HIV/AIDS (1981-present) |
Epidemic |
A sudden increase in the number of cases of a disease above what is normally expected in that population in that area. |
- Confined to a specific region or community - Short-term, but may be severe - Can potentially become a pandemic |
Ebola in West Africa (2014-2016), SARS in Asia (2002-2003), Cholera in Haiti (2010) |
Outbreak |
The occurrence of cases of disease in excess of what would normally be expected in a defined community, geographical area, or season. |
- More localized than an epidemic - Sudden onset - Can develop into an epidemic if not controlled |
Legionnaires' disease in Philadelphia (1976), Measles outbreak in Disneyland (2014-2015) |
Endemic |
The constant presence and/or usual prevalence of a disease or infectious agent in a population within a geographic area. |
- Stable transmission rates - Long-term presence in a specific area - Predictable patterns of occurrence |
Malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa, Dengue fever in Southeast Asia |
Hyperendemic |
Persistent, high levels of disease occurrence. |
- Higher-than-expected endemic levels - Continuous presence at high incidence - Often seen in diseases with seasonal spikes |
Hepatitis B in certain parts of Africa and Asia |
Cluster |
An aggregation of cases grouped in place and time that are suspected to be greater than the number expected. |
- Localized grouping - Can indicate an outbreak - Requires investigation to determine cause |
Cancer clusters in certain areas potentially linked to environmental factors |
Sporadic |
Cases of disease occurring singly, scattered, or isolated. |
- Irregular and infrequent occurrence - Cases are isolated - No apparent connection between cases |
Cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease |
Major Pandemics And Epidemics Throughout History
Year |
Pandemic/Epidemic |
Pathogen |
Estimated Death Toll |
Geographic Impact |
Notes |
165-180 |
Antonine Plague |
Unknown (possibly smallpox) |
5 million |
Roman Empire |
Spread by returning Roman soldiers; significantly weakened the Roman military. |
541-542 |
Plague of Justinian |
Yersinia pestis |
25-50 million |
Byzantine Empire, Mediterranean |
Considered the first recorded pandemic of bubonic plague. |
1347-1351 |
Black Death |
Yersinia pestis |
75-200 million |
Europe, Asia, North Africa |
One of the deadliest pandemics in human history; significantly altered European society. |
1520 |
Cocoliztli Epidemic |
Viral hemorrhagic fever |
15 million |
Mexico |
Devastated the indigenous population after the Spanish conquest. |
1665-1666 |
Great Plague of London |
Yersinia pestis |
75,000-100,000 |
London, England |
Last major outbreak of bubonic plague in England. |
1817-1824 |
First Cholera Pandemic |
Vibrio cholerae |
Unknown |
Asia, Europe, North America |
Originated in India; spread along trade routes. |
1889-1890 |
Russian Flu |
H2N2 Influenza virus |
1 million |
Worldwide |
First significant influenza pandemic of the modern era. |
1918-1919 |
Spanish Flu |
H1N1 Influenza virus |
50-100 million |
Worldwide |
Infected one-third of the world's population; most severe influenza pandemic. |
1957-1958 |
Asian Flu |
H2N2 Influenza virus |
1-2 million |
Worldwide |
Originated in East Asia; first identified in Singapore. |
1968-1969 |
Hong Kong Flu |
H3N2 Influenza virus |
1-4 million |
Worldwide |
Originated in Hong Kong; primarily affected the elderly. |
1981-present |
HIV/AIDS |
Human Immunodeficiency Virus |
36 million (to date) |
Worldwide |
Continues to be a significant global health issue. |
2002-2003 |
SARS |
SARS-CoV |
774 |
Asia, North America, Europe |
First identified in China; caused severe acute respiratory syndrome. |
2009-2010 |
Swine Flu |
H1N1 Influenza virus |
151,700-575,400 |
Worldwide |
A novel strain of H1N1; primarily affected younger populations. |
2012-present |
MERS |
MERS-CoV |
858 |
Middle East, Worldwide |
Primarily transmitted from camels to humans; causes severe respiratory illness. |
2014-2016 |
Ebola Epidemic |
Ebola Virus |
11,325 |
West Africa |
Largest outbreak of Ebola virus disease; primarily affected Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. |
2019-present |
COVID-19 |
SARS-CoV-2 |
6.9 million (to date) |
Worldwide |
Global pandemic; caused widespread societal and economic disruptions. |
Must read articles on India's vaccine diplomacy:
https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/indias-health-diplomacy-and-indias-pharma-sector
Sources:
PRACTICE QUESTION Q: Consider the following statements regarding the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI):
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? a) 1 and 2 only Answer: b) |