On Monday (1 June) the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) pledged US$62 million to fast-track three investigational vaccine candidates for the Bundibugyo virus. The three candidates are being developed by IAVI, Moderna and the University of Oxford, and the Oxford vaccine will be manufactured at the Serum Institute of India.
Teresa Lambe of the Oxford Vaccine Group said animal studies are under way and clinical-grade doses could be ready within two to three months. As of May 29 the outbreak had caused 223 suspected deaths in DRC and one in Uganda. On 2 June Uganda confirmed six new cases, bringing its confirmed total to 15. Gavi committed US$50 million to the response to speed access to vaccines.
Difficult words
- pledge — to promise to give money or supportpledged
- investigational — not yet approved; still being tested
- candidate — a possible vaccine that is being testedcandidates
- manufacture — to make products in large numbersmanufactured
- outbreak — a sudden start of disease in a place
- confirm — to show that something is trueconfirmed
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Discussion questions
- Do you think it is important to make vaccines quickly during an outbreak? Why?
- Would you trust a vaccine that is still being tested? Why or why not?
- Have you ever received a vaccine during travel or for work? Where and when?
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