Key to be ready for major diseases

Calls for greater goodEnvironmental activists holding placards next to Japanese anime characters during a protest organised in front of the Japanese embassy to call on Japan, host country of the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Hiroshima, to accelerate the transition to renewable energy in Pasay City in suburban Manila. — AFP

The stepping up of vaccine production in Singapore and other Asean countries can allow the region to play a key role in fighting the next pandemic, said the chief executive of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (Cepi), a foundation that funds vaccine development.

This includes allowing vaccines for new diseases to be distributed quickly and fairly when the next pandemic hits, said Dr Richard Hatchett.