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COALITION OF EPIDEMIC PREPAREDNESS INNOVATIONS

19th July, 2024

COALITION OF EPIDEMIC PREPAREDNESS INNOVATIONS

Source: PIB

Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

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

  • The Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) is an institute of the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC), Department of Biotechnology under Ministry of Science and Technology.
  •  It was set up in 2009 and is located in NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad.
  • It facilitated the signing of more than a dozen agreements and MoU’s signed with Private sector for Vaccine development and research in Nipah Virus, Influenza and other respiratory diseases.
  •  It will also facilitate innovative and cutting-edge fundamental research in the country, support translational research to test drug and vaccine candidates, identify biomarkers of disease progression/resolution and foster research collaborations across disciplines and professions with connectivity to industry and academia.

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


https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-editorials/daily-news-editorial-analysis-ii6-september-2023iistrategies-of-vaccine-diplomacy

Sources:

PIB

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q: Consider the following statements regarding the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI):

  1. CEPI is an international non-profit organization launched in Davos in 2017.
  2. CEPI primarily focuses on developing vaccines for diseases that are currently causing widespread outbreaks, such as influenza and measles.
  3. CEPI's funding comes from a coalition of governments, foundations, and private sector entities.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1 and 3 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2, and 3

Answer: b)