U.S. Rep. Jayapal, Experts Discuss Urgent Need for Manufacturing Plan from Biden Administration on Six Month Anniversary of First COVID-19 Vaccine
WHAT:
It’s been six months since the first person was vaccinated against COVID-19 as part of a mass vaccination program, yet as the heads of G7 countries prepare to meet this month, the vast majority of people globally still lack equitable access to the vaccine.
On Tuesday, June 8, U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) will join experts convened by Public Citizen as part of its Global Newsmakers in the Age of COVID press briefing series to reflect on this important milestone and discuss scaling up mRNA vaccine production around the world, and the political and technical aspects involved in any successful effort.
In just one year, the global community could set up regional vaccine manufacturing hubs and produce 8 billion mRNA vaccine doses – enough to support global herd immunity – according to a new report from Public Citizen. The report details the specific steps required to set up the necessary facilities, including technology transfer and capacity building, as well as the costs, raw materials, consumables, personnel and line requirements to produce eight billion drug substance doses within a year.
WHO:
U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.)
Marine Buissonniere, Senior Technical Advisor, Resolve to Save Lives, an initiative of Vital Strategies
James Krellenstein, Co-Founder, PrEP4All
Zain Rizvi, Law and Policy Researcher, Public Citizen
Moderated by Peter Maybarduk, Director of the Access to Medicines program
Press Q&A to follow.
WHEN: Tuesday, June 8, 11 a.m. ET, 15:00 UTC
WHERE: The event will be livestreamed. Register here.