CEPI launches global marketplace for COVID-19 vaccines

Norway-based Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and COVAX (COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access) partners are launching an innovative marketplace to accelerate the global production of COVID-19 vaccine doses for COVAX by matching suppliers of critical inputs with vaccine manufacturers who urgently need them to produce vaccines for fair and equitable distribution through COVAX. This initiative is a key deliverable of the COVAX Manufacturing Task Force, which is co-led by COVAX and industry partners. The new COVAX Marketplace is designed to address short-term bottlenecks by facilitating access to supplies needed to produce COVID-19 vaccines intended for distribution through COVAX. It will provide a secure platform for vaccine manufacturers and suppliers of critical inputs to confidentially indicate their needs or available supplies to CEPI, in its role as facilitator. CEPI will identify matching offers and requests and connect potential matches, prioritising based on objective criteria including whether the manufacturer has a COVAX advance purchase agreement and WHO Emergency Use Listing (EUL) in place, as well as dose volumes and delivery timings. Future versions of the Marketplace may include supplies required to manufacture other life saving therapies and vaccines which are also being affected by current global supply shortages.