Ethiopia, Norway, and the United Kingdom have promised to donate a total of $240 million to support CEPI’s new five-year plan. This plan, called CEPI 3.0, aims to make the world better prepared for future outbreaks of deadly diseases. Ethiopia will continue its financial support, Norway has committed $106 million, and the UK has pledged up to $134 million. These promises were made during an event at the United Nations General Assembly, just before world leaders meet to discuss ways to improve global health security. The money will help CEPI reduce the chances of outbreaks, lessen their impact, and lower their cost when they happen.
Dr. Richard Hatchett, the CEO of CEPI, explained that science has made it possible to create vaccines faster than ever before. However, this capability requires constant investment and teamwork to stay ready for new threats. By supporting CEPI 3.0, these three countries are taking important steps to protect global health. “Their investments will make the world’s defenses against diseases stronger,” he said. “This will help us respond quickly and fairly to new viral threats wherever they appear.”
Ethiopia’s Minister of Health, Dr. Mekdes Daba, emphasized that health security is a shared responsibility. “No single country can protect itself alone, especially in Africa,” she said. “The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a reminder that a disease in one place can become a threat everywhere.” She added that Ethiopia’s support for CEPI 3.0 will help speed up the development of vaccines against both known and unknown threats.
Norway’s Minister of International Development, Åsmund Aukrust, said that Norway’s support goes beyond just vaccines. “It’s about building a safer world through better preparedness, scientific teamwork, and fair access to life-saving health technologies,” he explained.
The UK’s Health and Social Care Minister, Baroness Merron, said that investing in vaccine research today will protect people in the future. “By providing up to £100 million to CEPI, we will help create the next generation of vaccines against some of the world’s most dangerous infectious diseases,” she said. The UK’s Foreign Office Minister, Chris Elmore, added that diseases do not respect borders. “Investing in prevention, preparedness, and response is a global responsibility and also in the UK’s best interest,” he noted.