Vaccine manufacturing workshop for South-East Asia and the Western Pacific regions: meeting report, 21-22 February 2022

Overview

A lesson learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic is the importance on diversification of vaccine production geographically to meet the local demands and enhance vaccination uptake, especially in the low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Equitable access of affordable and quality-assured vaccines continues to be at the forefront of initiatives in driving vaccine manufacturers to partake actively in producing routine vaccines and increase adaptability to new technologies to address current and future pandemics/ epidemics. World Health Organization (WHO) Local Production and Assistance (LPA) Unit in close collaboration with WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia and WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific with technical support from Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) organized this workshop to bring about a platform for stakeholders to engage, dialogue and collaborate towards preparedness and response to current and future epidemics/ pandemics to coronavirus and other priority pathogens to improve public health security in LMICs.