New G7 Report on 100 Day Pandemic Vaccines a Good Start; Requires Input from Poorer Countries and Research Participants

An independent pandemic preparedness partnership presented a report [1] to the G7 Leaders Summit, laying out an ambitious roadmap to develop vaccines and therapies within 100 days of a pandemic being declared. The partnership was formed at the behest of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson in his current capacity as the President of the G7. Its 19 members include representatives from industry (AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson and Johnson, Novartis, and Pfizer) and international institutions like the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Initiative, the World Health Organization, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

Melinda French Gates and Prime Minister Johnson deserve praise for their leadership in developing the report. A 100-day pandemic vaccine is the right target to shoot for, and the report envisions laudable and necessary steps including expanding vaccine manufacturing capabilities, creating prototype vaccines, and developing international clinical trial networks.

The proposal includes a suggestion for a funding mechanism to have funds available when a pandemic strikes. This is commendable as it will enable low- and middle-income countries to have timely access to the vaccines. We also strongly believe that for this to be meaningful, there must be inclusion not only in access but all steps leading up to the development of vaccines. Africa needs to be at the table for this discussion and most importantly participate in the science of developing vaccines as collaborating researchers as well as trial volunteers. Many African leaders believe in being part of the solution, such as Mosoka Fallah, who exemplifies this drive through his self-sacrificing work during the Ebola outbreak of 2014. This proposal fits the principles presented in our open letter [2] to WHO on global vaccine justice targeted at November's special World Health Assembly session on pandemic preparedness.

We are also glad to see that the report envisions a role for challenge studies in future pandemics, and believe that such studies must be founded on diversity and global inclusion as core pillars, in addition to scientific rigor. There will need to be a global study volunteer database to make rapid pandemic testing possible, and the regulatory rules of the road for those studies need to be worked out in advance. It is heartening that the report embraces clinical trial best practices like protocol publication, which is why we continue to call on the UK government to publish their COVID-19 challenge study protocols, as can be read in the Guardian [3] and BMJ Opinion [4].

Testing vaccines and treatments within 100 days of a pandemic will require an unprecedented mobilization of research participants, who also deserve representation in the pandemic preparedness partnership and in WHO planning [5].

1Day Sooner [6] is a non-profit organization advocating for people who want to participate in high-impact medical trials, including COVID-19
challenge trials.

“We can see the importance of including representatives from low- and middle-income countries in pandemic preparedness plans, with a third wave of the COVID-19 virus causing deaths in Uganda and Rwanda, and hospitals in South Africa being overwhelmed. We are seeing a rapid increase of cases in West Africa, where the UK variants have been detected. While the 100 day goal is noble, it will not benefit many who will lose their lives from low vaccination targets. Now is the time and a 50% vaccination target is better” - Mosoka Fallah, Ebola Emergency-Response Program Manager, Action Contre la Faim. Masters of Public Health, Global Health, Harvard School of Public Health

“We at 1Day Sooner commend this report and are glad to see challenge trials included as part of the standard plan for future pandemics. But the 100 day vaccine development timeline cannot just be for wealthy countries. The developing world, including Africa, needs to be represented in the pandemic preparedness partnership to ensure equal vaccination for all.” - Josh Morrison, Co-Founder and President, 1Day Sooner

“The 100 days goal is a good plan but the most important thing is that it must be based on the principles of global equity. This means that in planning, research, clinical trials and actual access, there must be equity not only of diversity but of global inclusion and fairness.” - Zacharia Kafuko, Molecular Biochemist, Mandela Washingon Fellow, 1Day Africa Chapter Manager