WHO announced Ebola Vaccine stockpile

By Oluchi Ihediuche

The World Health Organisation, (WHO) in partnership with other United Nations agencies and humanitarian organisations, has announced the establishment of global Ebola vaccine stockpile

WHO, in a statement posted on its website, announced that the vaccine stockpile would help to control future epidemics by ensuring timely access to vaccines for populations at risk during outbreaks.

“This new stockpile is an excellent example of solidarity, science and cooperation between international organisations and the private sector to save lives.”

The statement quoted WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, as saying, “Ebola vaccines have made one of the most feared diseases on earth preventable.

Mr Ghebreyesus, who underscored the importance of the vaccines to save lives from deadly viruses, said some agencies and organisations would take lead to establish the stockpile, with financial support from Gavi, the vaccine Alliance.

He listed them as the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision (ICG) which included WHO, UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) the International Federation of Red Cross, Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).

“The stockpile is stored in Switzerland, and vaccines are ready to be shipped to countries for emergency response.”

The statement also quoted UNICEF Executive Director, Henrietta Fore, as saying, “we are proud to be part of this unprecedented effort to help bring potential Ebola outbreaks quickly under control.