Canada boosts funding for CEPI's COVID-19 vaccine research

CEPI
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CEPI's crucial work to develop safe and effective vaccines against COVID-19 has received further financial support from The Government of Canada.

Canada, a long-standing investor in CEPI, announced today that it will contribute additional financial support for CEPI's vital COVID-19 R&D efforts, as part of a wider investment in the WHO's Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator.

In September, Canada made substantial commitments to ensuring equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines through COVAX—the vaccines pillar of the ACT Accelerator—which is co-led by CEPI, GAVI, and WHO. COVAX aims to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines and end the acute phase of the pandemic by the end of 2021.

We're extremely grateful for Canada's support and would like to thank Canada for the leadership it has shown in the global response to this pandemic. Canada has been a long-term supporter of CEPI and our mission to develop vaccines against emerging epidemic threats. Today, they have reaffirmed that support. CEPI and COVAX are building a large and broad portfolio of vaccine candidates to maximise the global availability of doses and ensure that we can deliver vaccines to all segments of all populations in all geographies. Only through a collective, unified response, will we overcome this virus and end the pandemic.

Dr. Richard HatchettChief Executive Officer, CEPI

Karina Gould's (Canada's Minister of International Development) announcement that Canada will contribute a further C$255 million (US$200 million) in support of the ACT Accelerator further cements Canada's international commitment to globally fair allocation to COVID-19 vaccines and other life-saving-interventions.

The faster we can get tests, treatments and vaccines out to people, the sooner this pandemic can be contained. Canada's support of global efforts to find successful medical solutions is a win for all.

The Honourable Karina GouldMinister of International Development, Canada

Image credit: Adam Scotti (PMO)