Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness

Published purpose

P009527001, P009527002 & P009527003: Canada support to CEPI is intended to address the COVID-19 challenge faced by developing countries. With already weak health systems and limited diagnostic capabilities, developing countries are particularly at risk of the outbreak spreading, potentially bearing a disproportionate share of the cost of the outbreak in terms of human suffering and economic impact. In addition, the disease and necessary containment measures will disproportionately harm the poor and other vulnerable groups in developing countries. This is further exacerbated by existing epidemic breakouts in various developing regions. Moreover, around urban centers in emerging markets and developing economies, the poor are often more likely to live in densely populated housing and large parts of the population have uneven access to water, sanitation and healthcare, making social distancing and personal hygiene difficult. Equitable access to a vaccine represents one of the greatest hopes to contain and ultimately suppress the pandemic, lessen the burden on developing country health systems, and speed up their economic recovery. In the implementation of COVID-19 vaccine efforts, CEPI will ensure that awardees addressing sex- and gender-based differences following the WHO’s 2016 Guidance for Managing Ethical Issues in Infectious Disease Outbreaks throughout the research and development process.