Kirsten Gagnaire’s Post

On Tuesday 28 May, the Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance will be hosting the 77th World Health Assembly side event, Immunising in Fragile and Conflict Settings: Challenges & Opportunities, with the participation of keynote speakers including IFRC Secretary General, Jagan Chapagain. Fragility and conflict are on the rise due to multiple and persistent crises. In the 15 countries identified as fragile by Gavi, there are 2.3 million ‘zero-dose’ children who have not been reached by routine immunisation services (22% of zero-dose children in Gavi implementing countries).    This World Health Assembly side event brings together health experts from governments, civil society and global health to unpack the unique challenges of delivering immunisation in fragile settings and how this delivery differs from other contexts. The discussion will focus on innovative approaches and partnerships to reach communities facing conflict and fragility who may be hours away from the nearest health facility. Don't miss this side event, register now: https://bit.ly/4dBuTVG

Our latest paper 📝 about lessons on polio response to latest outbreaks amidst challenging settings.

20 years ago, we took a big bet and launched the #GrandChallenges initiative to focus attention, resources, and scientific capacity on solving key health and development problems around the world. What started as a single initiative largely funded by our foundation has become a network of independent but interconnected R&D projects. From reinvented toilets to cutting-edge maternal health tools, the Grand Challenges model is a testament to what’s possible when the scientific community comes together, takes risks, and never stops working on the next big breakthrough. With urgent work left to do, the global health community must double-down on its commitment to innovation. It’ll take new collaborations and more funding for global health R&D to create a world in which all people lead healthy lives—and it’s a challenge we need to meet together. https://b-gat.es/3Sr3JbU

If anyone is interested in some background related to this topic, my colleague Luis Alfonso Dau from the Global Resilience Institute at Northeastern University and I wrote a #casestudy titled “COVID-19 and Property Rights: #Pfizer and the Fight over Vaccine Patent Waivers” about Pfizer’s initiative called ‘An Accord for a Healthier World’ to supply less-developed countries with the company’s #COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty and the oral antiviral drug Paxlovid. The program sought to reach 1.2 billion people in 45 countries with a focus on treating diseases that disproportionately affected low-income countries. The initiative was part of the company’s goal to reduce the number of people around the world who could not afford their medicines by 50 per cent. The CEO acknowledged the challenges of distribution, such as poor infrastructure, misinformation, and corruption and stated that solutions should address these underlying problems, rather than focusing on the cost of vaccines. He also stated that a vaccine patent waiver would not be effective because other countries did not have the necessary infrastructure or knowledge to safely produce high-quality vaccines. The waiver would also set a precedent for future endeavors, potentially making manufacturers reluctant to develop new treatments. D'Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University Center for Emerging Markets at Northeastern University The case is available free to qualified academic instructors from #iveypublishing. https://lnkd.in/ekcKN7FU

#Interview now available! Unpacking the #vaccine #clinicaltrial ecosystem: implementing adaptive design, leveraging pandemic experience, & supporting resource-limited settings Featuring Sushant Sahastrabuddhe, Acting Deputy Director General at the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) where he discusses his work across the pre- and post-COVID-19 eras of vaccine development, with a focus on resource-limited settings and uniting the global community. Read below: #covid #pandemic #vaccinedevelopment

Great to speak with Sushant Sahastrabuddhe, MD, MPH,MBA (International Vaccine Institute (IVI)) about the Institute's work and his thoughts on the future of the #vaccine clinical trial ecosystem!

𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗦𝗔 𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗕𝗥𝗛𝗔𝗡: #PandemicPolitics Bill Gates, a modern-day epidemic czar, poured billions into fighting COVID-19. His Foundation's partnerships with WHO, Gavi, and CEPI reshaped global responses. Yet, investigations reveal the profound influence of these private entities on public health policies. As Gates warns of future pandemics, should we brace for another round of lockdowns and vaccines? The stakes are high, and the game is intricate. Read more https://ow.ly/xgk550Smszx

What is adaptive clinical trial design? How is IVI working differently in the post-COVID-19 era of vaccine development? What are the challenges of conducting vaccine clinical trials in sites and countries with little experience? Dive into these questions and more in this Vaccine Insights interview featuring IVI's Acting Deputy Director General of Clinical, Assessment, Regulatory & Evaluation Sushant Sahastrabuddhe, MD, MPH,MBA 👇 https://lnkd.in/gaNv8n9K.

France is committed to supporting African sovereignty in the field of health. As part of the Global Forum for Vaccine Sovereignty and Innovation in Paris on June 20, co-organized with the African Union and the Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, let's share some impactful results about our partnership with South Africa 🇫🇷 🇿🇦 These initiatives aim to enhance health independence of the country, ensuring a resilient and self-sufficient healthcare system capable of responding to future pandemics. The Global Forum for Vaccine Sovereignty will marks a significant step towards ensuring vaccine sovereignty and strengthening healthcare systems in the word. Together, we are paving the way for a healthier and more equitable world 💉🌍 🔗 For more information: https://swll.to/85uf1NU Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères Afrigen Biologics (Pty) Ltd South African Medical Research Council Government ZA Biovac Chrysoula Zacharopoulou #VaccineSovereignty #GAVI #HealthIndependence

The recent conference at the University of Oxford Pandemic Sciences Institute underscored the critical importance of cross-sectoral collaboration during the interpandemic period. Experts like Helen Rees and Maria Van Kerkhove highlighted the increasing frequency of public health emergencies due to climate change and environmental pressures, and the importance of collaboration between scientists, policymakers, governments, funders and multilateral institutions to improve pandemic preparedness and response. Experts discussed how the “panic-neglect” cycle, which has historically characterized our approach to pandemics, must be broken as it is not only costly but also undermines our preparedness for future emergencies. In our volatile world, maintaining attention and resources for pandemic preparedness requires extraordinary effort and advocacy. The conference reinforced the need for sustained vigilance and proactive measures to ensure global health security.