Vaccines: A Shield for Nations

Vaccines are not just about health; they are a matter of national security. This is the strong message from a top global health leader. He warns that growing anti-vaccine feelings around the world could make it harder to fight future pandemics. The leader is Richard Hatchett. He heads the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, or Cepi. This group was one of the first to fund COVID-19 vaccines. Hatchett says epidemics and pandemics are still big global threats. He believes vaccines are key to fighting them. Cepi is now raising money for its work from 2027 to 2031. They need $3. 6 billion. They already have $1. 1 billion. So, they are asking for another $2. 5 billion. This money will help speed up vaccine development for pandemics and epidemics. Hatchett points out different threats. These include viruses that appear naturally, lab accidents, and even biological threats made by bad actors. He says advances in artificial intelligence could help both create and fight these threats.Despite fading memories of the pandemic, Hatchett says governments still understand the importance of vaccines. However, funding is becoming harder to get. Rich countries, especially the U. S. , are pulling back on aid. The Trump administration has cut all funding for Gavi, a group that helps buy vaccines for poor countries. President Trump's Health Secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, has spread anti-vaccine views that go against scientific evidence. Hatchett is worried about the politicization of vaccine policy in the U. S. He fears this could weaken vaccine uptake in future pandemics. Last year, the U. S. cancelled $700 million in funding for Moderna's bird flu vaccine. Cepi then stepped in with $54. 3 million to support the vaccine's development. Hatchett will soon travel to the U. S. for talks. He believes Washington understands the threat of pandemics and will remain a strong partner. He notes that the U. S. has continued to work with Cepi under the Trump administration, including on recent outbreaks of Marburg virus disease in Rwanda and Ethiopia.