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Leaked Documents Reveal Behind-the-Scenes Ebola Vaccine Issues

Posted by timothy on from the how-much-for-what-benefit-to-whom-with-what-certainty dept.

sciencehabit writes Extensive background documents from a meeting that took place today at the World Health Organization (WHO) have provided new details about exactly what it will take to test, produce, and bankroll Ebola vaccines, which could be a potential game changer in the epidemic. ScienceInsider obtained materials that vaccinemakers, governments, and WHO provided to the 100 or so participants at a meeting on 'access and financing' of Ebola vaccines. The documents put hard numbers on what until now have been somewhat fuzzy academic discussions. And they make clear to the attendees—who include representatives from governments, industry, philanthropies, and nongovernmental organizations—that although testing and production are moving forward at record speed, knotty issues remain.

2 of 124 comments (clear)

  1. So 1 x F35 = 60 million x vaccinations? by xxxJonBoyxxx · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If an F35 costs $337M* and "27 million doses of vaccine" would cost $151 million (half to produce and half to deliver as per TFA), then one F35 would be worth about 60 million doses of vaccine? * (https://medium.com/war-is-boring/how-much-does-an-f-35-actually-cost-21f95d239398)

  2. Summary by KeensMustard · · Score: 5, Insightful
    In summary, GSK (who makes the most promising vaccine) don't have enough manufacturing capacity to make this vaccine and other vaccines at the same time.

    And the ethics around live human trials are tricky, because some participants in the trial will die from ebola.

    Which isn't surprising. If someone can think of alternative which delivers a better result, then I'm all ears. The framing of this as if the documents reveal some sort of 'scandal' is a bit troubling.