Can I tell you a quick, important story? About why we are going it alone on finding a vaccine, when most of the rest of the world collaborates...
1/ It's the story of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and how Trump's refusal to join has left us vulnerable.
1/ It's the story of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and how Trump's refusal to join has left us vulnerable.
2/ CEPI was launched in early 2017 - a groundbreaking international public/private organization to develop vaccines for new, emerging diseases.
CEPI was designed, in many ways, for the Coronavirus crisis.
CEPI was designed, in many ways, for the Coronavirus crisis.
3/ Heralded as "the largest vaccine development initiative ever against viruses that are potential epidemic threats", the EU, Japan, Canada, India, Saudi Arabia, the Gates Foundation and many others quickly joined.
But the U.S. was nowhere to be found.
Trump wouldn't join.
But the U.S. was nowhere to be found.
Trump wouldn't join.
4/ And so when CEPI began work on a vaccine for Coronavirus, the United States was left on the outside. This means that if CEPI develops a vaccine, it will likely give preference to its members.
The good news - CEPI still wants us as a member. It's not too late.
The good news - CEPI still wants us as a member. It's not too late.
5/ So this is a NO BRAINER - in the next Coronavirus relief bill, Congress should require the Trump Administration to join CEPI and make a contribution to their work.
Maybe we find a vaccine in the U.S. first - but if a CEPI partner finds it, we want be part of the team.
Maybe we find a vaccine in the U.S. first - but if a CEPI partner finds it, we want be part of the team.
