World Health Summit: Vaccine Policy for Health Equity

About the panel
The accelerated development and deployment of novel vaccines against COVID-19 made it possible to offer vaccination against the virus for virtually everybody in high income countries merely one year after the outbreak. But people in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are still waiting last in line for COVID vaccines and treatments, and efficacious control of COVID-19 will only be achieved if vaccines will be available for all. 

This panel discussion will address different aspects of how to improve vaccine availability for all and how to ensure acceptance by all. Strategies for how to best overcome the COVID-19 crisis will be discussed, as will the the threat of newly emerging and current health threats that can be effectively controlled by vaccination campaigns.

Access planning is essential
During the panel, Jayasree will discuss the importance of access planning mechanisms, such as registration filings, equitable pricing schemes or voluntary licensing arrangements for increased equity, especially for people living in LMICs.

The panel will be chaired by Prof. Dr Stefan H.E. Kaufmann, Director Emeritus, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology.

Speakers on the panel include:

• Prof. Dr Peter Hotez, Dean for the National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine 

• Dr Jayasree K. Iyer, Executive Director, Access to Medicine Foundation 

• Dr Frederik Kristensen, Deputy CEO, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) 

• Janine Small, Global President Emerging Markets, Pfizer

• H.E. Dr Alfredo Borrero Vega, Vice President, Republic of Ecuador

About the World Health Summit
The World Health Summit is one of the world’s leading strategic forums for global health. Each year, the World Health Summit draws international experts from academia, politics, the private sector, and civil society to Berlin for a three-day summit in which stakeholders and decision-makers from 100 countries and every field in healthcare work together to find solutions to global health challenges and set the agenda for a healthier future.

For additional details about the 2021 World Health Summit programme, please click here.