Join forces

To meet the funding requirements of the approved Ebola initiative, Gavi will use a combination of existing and new sources of funds and join forces with initiatives that have already pledged funding to address the Ebola crisis.

Although there is currently no approved Ebola vaccine, two manufacturers have candidates undergoing human trials, with more manufacturers due to begin human trials with their candidate vaccines shortly. The Gavi Board’s decision to support the preparations for procuring Ebola vaccines while still awaiting a WHO recommendation was taken in light of the seriousness of the situation and the risks associated with delays in making a vaccine available.

Critical importance

“The Ebola outbreak reminds us of the critical importance of vaccines in fighting infectious diseases,” said Gavi CEO Dr Seth Berkley. “The Board’s decision underlines Gavi’s commitment to support the people of the Ebola-affected countries by ensuring that they will have access to a WHO-recommended vaccine as soon as one is approved and available from manufacturers.”

Noting the seriousness of the epidemic and the devastating consequences for people and communities, the Gavi Board approved plans that could see:

• Up to US$ 300 million spent procuring up to 12 million courses of WHO recommended Ebola vaccines including production costs and potential scale up and capacity building costs.
• Up to US$ 45 million to help countries roll out the vaccine, including critical activities such as health worker training, social mobilisation, surveillance and, if required, improvements to cold storage facilities
• Up to US$ 45 million to assist with the recovery of health systems and immunisation services for all vaccines in the countries affected by the outbreak

Stockpiles

In addition to supporting the use of Ebola vaccines to control the current epidemic, Gavi funding could also be used to create stockpiles of first- and second-generation Ebola vaccines which countries can access rapidly in future outbreaks. Gavi already funds similar stockpiles for yellow fever, meningitis A and oral cholera vaccines.

“Gavi has a responsibility to those in need,” said Gavi Board Chair Dagfinn Høybråten. “The Ebola outbreak, and its tragic effect on countries where we have been working for years, has tested Gavi’s ability to respond quickly to an urgent need and I am proud of the decision taken by the Board today. We are making determined efforts to ensure that people living in Ebola-affected countries are protected as soon as possible and do not have to face another terrible outbreak in the future.”

Oversight

To maintain effective oversight of Gavi’s Ebola activities, the Board requested a schedule of regular updates through the Executive Committee and other governance mechanisms.

The Gavi Board’s decision was based on recommendations drawn up following three months of intensive collaboration between the Gavi Secretariat, Ebola-affected countries, the African Development Bank, WHO, UNICEF, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Bank, vaccine manufacturers, civil society organisations including Médecins Sans Frontières, and donors.