Aussie experts sign WHO’s COVID-19 vaccine pledge

Medical News: As part of World Health Organisation’s (WHO) response to the COVID-19 outbreak, a Research and Development (R&D) Blueprint has been activated to accelerate the development of diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics for this novel coronavirus.

Australian researchers working on COVID-19 vaccines have signed a WHO declaration pledging global collaboration to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. The statement applauds the community intervention measures that have taken place, with scientist pledging to use the time gained by the implementation of these measures to develop a vaccine as rapidly as possible. The pledge promises to strengthen the unprecedented worldwide collaboration, cooperation and sharing of data already underway.

Declaration

“We are scientists, physicians, funders and manufacturers who have come together as part of an international collaboration, coordinated by the World Health Organisation (WHO), to help speed the availability of a vaccine against COVID-19. While a vaccine for general use takes time to develop, a vaccine may ultimately be instrumental in controlling this worldwide pandemic. In the interim, we applaud the implementation of community intervention measures that reduce spread of the virus and protect people, including vulnerable populations, and pledge to use the time gained by the widespread adoption of such measures to develop a vaccine as rapidly as possible. We will continue efforts to strengthen the unprecedented worldwide collaboration, cooperation and sharing of data already underway. We believe these efforts will help reduce inefficiencies and duplication of effort, and we will work tenaciously to increase the likelihood that one or more safe and effective vaccines will soon be made available to all.”

Australian Experts in Worldwide Collaboration

• Keith Chappell, University of Queensland        

• Damian Purcell, Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity

• Paul R Young, University of Queensland

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