Global Vaccine and Bio Leaders Jointly Emphasize 'Equitable Vaccine Distribution'

'2022 World Bio Summit' Opens on the 25th

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] Representatives of major international health organizations emphasized that equitable vaccine distribution, along with vaccine development, is crucial to prepare for future pandemics based on lessons learned from COVID-19.

At the 1st '2022 World Bio Summit' held on the 25th, jointly hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the World Health Organization (WHO), keynote speakers Richard Hatchett, CEO of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Jerome Kim, Director-General of the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), and Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, expressed a consensus on this point.

Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, stressed the need to strive for equitable vaccine supply alongside developing vaccines within 100 days. He stated, "Only the United States, Europe, and China had vaccine manufacturing facilities, and politically, these countries had to prioritize supporting their own citizens. This reality will not change in the future." He added, "To develop vaccines within 100 days, we must have a common agenda to save the world from future pandemics and support equitable vaccine administration."

Jerome Kim, Director-General of IVI, mentioned the importance of equitable vaccine distribution and the infrastructure for vaccination as lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. Kim explained, "More important than vaccine development is the proper use of vaccines," noting that "77% of low-income countries have never received a single vaccine dose." He emphasized, "It is not the vaccine that saves lives, but the vaccination," and added, "It should not end with vaccine development; a vaccination system must be established."

Furthermore, Kim highlighted the necessity of international cooperation. He said, "If we fail to reduce disparities in equity, many more deaths, costs, and variants will occur due to missed vaccinations when needed, creating a vicious cycle where variants lead to another pandemic." He explained, "Global pandemics require cooperation like an orchestra, not individual protection."

Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, stated that vaccine supply equity must be firmly established to respond to future infectious diseases. He said, "Research shows that the probability of experiencing a pandemic similar in scale to COVID-19 increases by 2% annually due to population growth and climate change, so we need a global structure to respond more resiliently and robustly to future epidemics." As a method, Berkley argued, "We must prioritize and maintain equity in vaccine administration," and "Diversify vaccine manufacturing in emerging and low-income countries to secure global vaccine supply security." He also added, "Routine immunization should be possible, and funding, as well as strong health system development, are also necessary."

President Yoon Suk-yeol, who attended the opening ceremony, also mentioned international cooperation in the health and medical fields. President Yoon said, "(The government) is expanding contributions to strengthen the global health system by pledging $300 million to the ACT-A initiative, $100 million to the Global Fund to fight the three major infectious diseases, and $30 million to the World Bank’s Financial Intermediary Fund."

Following the keynote speeches at the event, representatives of global bio companies shared their experiences with COVID-19 and vaccine and bio development and production under the theme "Future Strategies for the Post-Pandemic Era." Jerome Kim, Director-General of IVI, served as the chair, with presenters from Pfizer, Moderna, SK Bioscience, MSD, Shionogi, Ildong Pharmaceutical, Merck, Afrigen, and Biovac participating.

On the 26th, health ministers from countries including Korea, El Salvador, Nigeria, Thailand, the United States, and Germany will deliver on-site and video congratulatory remarks, followed by the proclamation of the "Seoul Declaration." The Seoul Declaration will call for international cooperation to strengthen future pandemic response capabilities. Additionally, various sessions will be held covering countries’ efforts to overcome COVID-19, R&D investment strategies for vaccines and therapeutics in preparation for the post-COVID era, and securing supply chains for vaccine raw materials, components, and equipment.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.