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11. How COVID-19 vaccine supply chains emerged in the midst of a pandemic

Author:
Chad P. Bown
Publication Date:
08-2021
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE)
Abstract:
Many months after COVID-19 vaccines were first authorized for public use, still limited supplies could only partially reduce the devastating loss of life and economic costs caused by the pandemic. Could additional vaccine doses have been manufactured more quickly some other way? Would alternative policy choices have made a difference? This paper provides a simple analytical framework through which to view the contours of the vaccine value chain. It then creates a new database that maps the COVID-19 vaccines of Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca/Oxford, Johnson & Johnson, Novavax, and CureVac to the product- and location-specific manufacturing supply chains that emerged in 2020 and 2021. It describes the choppy process through which dozens of other companies at nearly 100 geographically distributed facilities came together to scale up global manufacturing. The paper catalogues major pandemic policy initiatives—such as the United States' Operation Warp Speed—that are likely to have affected the timing and formation of those vaccine supply chains. Given the data, a final section identifies further questions for researchers and policymakers.
Topic:
Vaccine, COVID-19, Health Crisis, and Supply Chains
Political Geography:
Global Focus and United States of America

12. mRNA vaccines: a lucky shot?

Author:
Reinhilde Veugelers
Publication Date:
12-2021
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Bruegel
Abstract:
MRNA technology has proved in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic its breakthrough value as a basis for vaccines. There has been rapid development of highly safe, effective and robust mRNA vaccines, and these can be delivered at large scale. Yet the technology is the result of a long process of accumulation of innovation and capacity. It was a bumpy process that could easily have turned out differently. The mRNA vaccines story suggests that a vibrant vaccine ecosystem cannot be taken for granted in terms of delivering the breakthroughs needed for global pandemic preparedness and response. This paper examines the background of mRNA technology development to understand better how public vaccine research and development policy can be improved to generate the full global social benefits from breakthrough novel vaccine technologies, like mRNA.
Topic:
Science and Technology, Research, Vaccine, and COVID-19
Political Geography:
Global Focus

13. Dividing up Covid-19 vaccine: distribution based on countries’ weight

Author:
Al Jazeera Center for Studies
Publication Date:
02-2021
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Al Jazeera Center for Studies
Abstract:
Ending the coronavirus pandemic is not only about the technical issue of vaccine development. The challenge is multidimensional, involving a global proprietary pharmaceutical system and an exclusive, nationalist tendency in wealthy, prosperous states.
Topic:
Nationalism, Vaccine, COVID-19, Health Crisis, and Pharmaceuticals
Political Geography:
Global Focus

14. Global Access to COVID-19 Vaccines: Challenges in Production, Affordability, Distribution and Utilisation

Author:
Andreas Stamm, Christoph Strupat, and Anna-Katharina Hornidge
Publication Date:
01-2021
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)
Abstract:
The COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing vaccination process calls for decisive, internationally coordinated and forward-looking action. We propose short-, medium- and long-term actions and emphasise that the political pressure for action should not only focus on short-term management, but on building long-term structures that are crucial to prepare for future epidemics or pandemics. Four key challenges need to be addressed in order to achieve global control of COVID-19 by using vaccines. First, vaccines need to be produced at scale; second, they should be priced affordably; third, they have to be allocated globally so that they are available where needed; and fourth, they have to be deployed and utilised in local communities. Challenges in production are producing some of the main bottlenecks, but the others – in particular vaccine scepticism and utilisation – need to be considered early enough to enable smooth global vaccination campaigns. Addressing the four key challenges, we recommend the following short, medium- and long-term actions. In the short term, we advise accelerating global vaccination efforts by scaling up financial support for the COVAX initiative. In the medium term, we suggest establishing regional production centres in priority countries, providing the necessary intellectual property through voluntary patent pools and fostering information campaigns and civil society participation to increase vaccination willingness and utilisation. In the long term, we recommend establishing Global Pandemic Centres of Excellence in all world regions – analogous to the CGIAR system in the agricultural sector – that are responsible for medical research, vaccine production, distribution and delivery.
Topic:
International Cooperation, Vaccine, COVID-19, and Coordination
Political Geography:
Global Focus

15. A Theoretical Approach to Evaluating Global Vaccination Plans

Author:
Youngseok Park and Sangjun Yea
Publication Date:
03-2021
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP)
Abstract:
We study a game-theoretic model in which there are two periods of time in each of which agents (players) make a vaccination decision, and they choose the level of economic activities. In addition, we consider two kinds of policy measures 1) a vaccination passport policy and 2) a subsidy policy to promote vaccination, and compare the social welfare in each case. We find that introducing a vaccine passport policy or subsidizing to mitigate the expected costs from vaccination may decrease the social welfare when a vaccine is effective to reducing the extent of severeness of illness from virus infection but not successful in curbing the transmissibility of virus.
Topic:
Economics, Vaccine, Game Theory, and Social Welfare
Political Geography:
Global Focus

16. ASEAN Response: Pushing Back Vaccine Nationalism

Author:
Mely Caballero-Anthony
Publication Date:
08-2020
Content Type:
Commentary and Analysis
Institution:
Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies
Abstract:
As ASEAN economic ministers meet virtually this week to deal with, among other things, the severe impacts of COVID-19, their crucial task should be to strengthen multilateral cooperation. ASEAN should rally its dialogue partners and the private sector to make vaccines available to all. Can ASEAN centrality help push back the worrying trend of vaccine nationalism?
Topic:
Vaccine, ASEAN, COVID-19, and Health Crisis
Political Geography:
Asia and Global Focus

17. Global Health Security and Pandemics: COVID-19 and Vaccines

Publication Date:
11-2020
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
In this episode, Professor Sophie Harman responds to the news that a vaccine, developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, has been put forward for emergency approval. She discusses the issues of vaccine nationalism, vaccine hesitancy, and what might happen politically when the vaccine arrives.
Topic:
Security, Public Health, Vaccine, Pandemic, and COVID-19
Political Geography:
Global Focus

18. Vaccine Introduction and Coverage in Gavi-Supported Countries 2015-2018: Implications for Gavi 5.0

Author:
Roxanne Oroxom and Amanda Glassman
Publication Date:
06-2019
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Center for Global Development (CGD)
Abstract:
With a vision of “creating equal access to new and underused vaccines,” Gavi set several coverage-specific targets for 2020 as part of its Phase IV strategy, including the immunization of an additional 300 million children, increased pentavalent 3 and measles-containing vaccine (MCV) 1 coverage, and greater equity in coverage across wealth quintiles.[1] The strategy also called for broadening protection through improved routine coverage and the introduction of new vaccines.[2]
Topic:
Health, Children, Public Health, and Vaccine
Political Geography:
Global Focus

19. Global Immunization and Gavi: Five Priorities for the Next Five Years

Author:
Amanda Glassman, Cordelia Kenney, and Janeen Madan Keller
Publication Date:
06-2019
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Center for Global Development (CGD)
Abstract:
Child vaccination remains among the most cost-effective uses of public and aid monies.[1] In a highly contested funding environment where priorities must be set for the allocation of scarce concessional resources, investment in expanding the availability and coverage of cost-effective vaccination must come at the top of the list. Gavi’s mission—saving children’s lives and protecting people’s health by increasing equitable use of vaccines—remains highly relevant. Gavi and its partners have made enormous progress towards increasing equity in the introduction of vaccines; children living in the lowest-income countries now have access to the same set of vaccines as those living in high-income countries. Gavi and partners have also contributed to increased coverage; immunization rates are higher in Burundi and Rwanda, for example, than in many places in the United States and Europe. Yet the effects of under-immunization anywhere can have global implications everywhere, as recent outbreaks illustrate. New or dormant threats are also a new reality—newly vaccine-preventable diseases like Ebola or virulent flu strains can spread swiftly and lethally in an interconnected world.
Topic:
Health, Public Health, Vaccine, and Immunization
Political Geography:
Global Focus

20. Accelerating the Development of a Universal Influenza Vaccine

Author:
Aspen Institute
Publication Date:
07-2019
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Aspen Institute
Abstract:
The Sabin-Aspen Vaccine Science & Policy Group convened in 2018 to explore challenges and opportunities to develop a universal influenza vaccine. The group’s recommendations on how to overcome the scientific, financial and organizational barriers to developing a vaccine are synthesized in this report published in July 2019.
Topic:
Vaccine, Pandemic, Medicine, and Influenza
Political Geography:
Global Focus