Gov’t urged to build research capacity for vaccine development

Disease X is not a specific disease but is the name given to a potential novel infectious agent.

It represents an illness which is currently unknown but could pose a serious microbial threat to humans in the future.

A WHO report indicates that public health agencies and governments across the globe are always readying their response for the next infectious disease emergency, but how do we prepare for the truly unknown, which could be disease X.

At the Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit held in Accra, experts and stakeholders in vaccine development and research deliberated on three central themes on preparations ahead of any possible future shock.

This included enabling equitable access to vaccines and other health technologies through strengthening local and regional production capacity.

According to Professor Barney Graham, a virologist and clinical trials Physician at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, USA, pandemic preparedness in health systems is crucial because there is a vast reservoir of viruses circulating, which could be possible health threats.

“There is so much biodiversity in Africa, with many types of ecology so new viruses could spring up at anytime. One of the key things that can therefore be intensified is surveillance efforts toward virus discovery.” Professor Barney Graham added.

Since 2015, WHO has implemented a comprehensive global research strategy and preparedness plan known as the WHO Research and Development, R&D Blueprint for Epidemics.

The C.E.O of the National Vaccine Institute, Professor William Ampofo noted that the institute is working closely with researchers to understand their needs to strengthen Ghana’s vaccine research and development.

Professor William Ampofo said Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research has offered a space for the setting up of a facility for targeted Research and Development of vaccines (R&D), especially protein-based vaccines.

“With other funding coming into the system, we have facilitated engagements of these development partners with research institutions in the country for direct discussions on what type of research programs they want to focus on in relation to vaccine R&D,” he said.

Elaborating on surveillance and identifying potential threats, Professor Ampofo noted that priority diseases like Avian Influenza, re-emerging infections and others that could come from animals are being monitored under a programme called “One Health”.

It is being said that the faster a vaccine, antivirals, monoclonal antibodies, and diagnostic tests are available, that trend during an infectious disease emergency translates into lives being saved.

The Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit was organised by Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, National Vaccine Institute and the Morehouse School of Medicine, USA.