Vaccines industry response to COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on people’s lives and on healthcare systems throughout the world. On 5th May 2023, the World Health Organization declared that COVID-19 is no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). One of the key tools to make this possible and bring the pandemic under control was vaccination.
Typically, it takes more than a decade to bring a vaccine to market. Thanks to unprecedented efforts and collaboration across all stakeholders – EU institutions, governments, health systems, regulators and the research-based pharmaceutical industry – safe and effective vaccines were developed, manufactured and supplied in record time. By January 2022, over 12 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses were produced, with more than 350 collaborations across the industry.
It is paramount that we don’t let our guard down and implement lessons learned from the pandemic, such as collaboration across all stakeholders and regulatory flexibilities, to further improve immunisation systems.
Our commitments
At Vaccines Europe our thoughts are with all those affected by the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Vaccines Europe, part of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), stands in support with the global community and the World Health Organization (WHO) to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
While governments contend with implementing appropriate public health measures and health systems are treating unprecedented numbers of patients requiring intensive care, our industry is focused on three key areas:
1
Ensuring the supply of existing vaccines to the patients that need them
2
Supporting governments and health systems on the ground
3
The search for vaccines to help in the fight against the coronavirus
The COVID-19 pandemic is the public health challenge of our time, which requires a concerted effort and new solutions to be found together. Vaccines Europe, as a representative of innovative research & development vaccine manufacturers, is honoured to be a part of the R&D ecosystem that responds n a spirit of partnership. We participate in an unprecedent exchange of information and dialogue with other stakeholders on how to address this pandemic.
Europe’s collaborative research community has responded to global health crises before. Through efforts such as the Innovative Medicines Initiative and other public-private partnerships1, we advanced new Ebola vaccine candidates, and diagnostics, and developed new identification and compliance tools. Collaborating in this way has the potential to accelerate development of resources to tackle this pandemic. It enables networks of centres of excellence that can deliver real impact and create a preparedness infrastructure which can be mobilized for future outbreaks.
Our members are committed to ensure that when new vaccines are approved they are available and affordable. See all our commitments here.
Related Materials
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What it takes to develop and deliver a COVID-19 vaccine – and what this means for the long-term management of this disease and others
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Equitable access to innovative COVID-19 vaccines in Africa should focus on healthcare system absorption capacities & vaccine confidence
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Launch of an ambitious cross-pharma study by the public-private partnership ‘COVIDRIVE’: a multi-country European study to continuously monitor COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness against severe disease
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EFPIA-Vaccines Europe response on the EU Communication on “Urgent Trade Policy Responses to the COVID-19 crisis”
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COVID-19 vaccine makers invite G20 leaders to support the five steps to urgently advance COVID-19 vaccine equity
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Vaccines Europe’s statement on the European Commission’s proposal for a Digital Green Certificate
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EFPIA – Vaccines Europe response to global leaders urgent call for international pandemic treaty
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