Philanthropy
An insider’s guide to the Covid vaccine
In recent weeks, news of successful clinical trials for potential vaccines has given hope, and with that, further questions about the next steps for vaccine manufacturing and rollout.
Jean Sung: I want to thank our distinguished speakers for your advice, offering us the facts, the science behind the vaccines, as well as the collaboration between the academia and the private sector to continue, I think, to foster partnerships that will allow our scientists to continue to investigate, to develop different studies, analysis that will help us to be more efficient, more resilient with any future pandemics.
Dr. Kirsty Short: I think this year, science-especially in this field-has accelerated at just this unprecedented rate. And whilst it's been a very tough year, it's also incredible to see what science can achieve, and what we can achieve in terms of public health and in terms of responses when that science is applied to public policy properly independent of politics.
Dr. Kirsty Short: I think it's important to not overlook the role of treatments and therapies in this. That there is now a global push to develop these treatments that are not restricted to one viral infection, can be used to multiple viruses. So what we can do in terms of pandemic preparedness is stockpile these treatments so when the next virus spills over from an animal host, we at least have something on hand to treat people.
Ian Frazer: Equally important will be maintaining surveillance in potential animal communities that may transmit these viruses to humans. Almost every virus that causes problems in humans starts life is a relatively non-pathogenic virus in an animal. And if we could keep a monitor on what's going on in the animal populations around us, then we are ready to be prepared for the viruses that will come out of them, and we can almost anticipate when things will go wrong and when we'll have to deal with the next virus that comes from an animal host.
Paul Young: I think there's a growing awareness that to effectively combat a pandemic such as this, one that has spread around the globe, that if you want it controlled in your country, it needs to be controlled in all countries. So I think those decisions are being realized, that there is benefit in philanthropic assurance that there is global coverage of vaccines.
Jean Sung: it's only because we are together that we can build a better health future for all of us. Jean Sung: I want to thank our distinguished speakers for your advice, offering us the facts, the science behind the vaccines, as well as the collaboration between the academia and the private sector to continue, I think, to foster partnerships that will allow our scientists to continue to investigate, to develop different studies, analysis that will help us to be more efficient, more resilient with any future pandemics.
Dr. Kirsty Short: I think this year, science-especially in this field-has accelerated at just this unprecedented rate. And whilst it's been a very tough year, it's also incredible to see what science can achieve, and what we can achieve in terms of public health and in terms of responses when that science is applied to public policy properly independent of politics.
Dr. Kirsty Short: I think it's important to not overlook the role of treatments and therapies in this. That there is now a global push to develop these treatments that are not restricted to one viral infection, can be used to multiple viruses. So what we can do in terms of pandemic preparedness is stockpile these treatments so when the next virus spills over from an animal host, we at least have something on hand to treat people.
Ian Frazer: Equally important will be maintaining surveillance in potential animal communities that may transmit these viruses to humans. Almost every virus that causes problems in humans starts life is a relatively non-pathogenic virus in an animal. And if we could keep a monitor on what's going on in the animal populations around us, then we are ready to be prepared for the viruses that will come out of them, and we can almost anticipate when things will go wrong and when we'll have to deal with the next virus that comes from an animal host.
Paul Young: I think there's a growing awareness that to effectively combat a pandemic such as this, one that has spread around the globe, that if you want it controlled in your country, it needs to be controlled in all countries. So I think those decisions are being realized, that there is benefit in philanthropic assurance that there is global coverage of vaccines.
Jean Sung: it's only because we are together that we can build a better health future for all of us.
Dr. Kirsty Short: I think this year, science-especially in this field-has accelerated at just this unprecedented rate. And whilst it's been a very tough year, it's also incredible to see what science can achieve, and what we can achieve in terms of public health and in terms of responses when that science is applied to public policy properly independent of politics.
Dr. Kirsty Short: I think it's important to not overlook the role of treatments and therapies in this. That there is now a global push to develop these treatments that are not restricted to one viral infection, can be used to multiple viruses. So what we can do in terms of pandemic preparedness is stockpile these treatments so when the next virus spills over from an animal host, we at least have something on hand to treat people.
Ian Frazer: Equally important will be maintaining surveillance in potential animal communities that may transmit these viruses to humans. Almost every virus that causes problems in humans starts life is a relatively non-pathogenic virus in an animal. And if we could keep a monitor on what's going on in the animal populations around us, then we are ready to be prepared for the viruses that will come out of them, and we can almost anticipate when things will go wrong and when we'll have to deal with the next virus that comes from an animal host.
Paul Young: I think there's a growing awareness that to effectively combat a pandemic such as this, one that has spread around the globe, that if you want it controlled in your country, it needs to be controlled in all countries. So I think those decisions are being realized, that there is benefit in philanthropic assurance that there is global coverage of vaccines.
Jean Sung: it's only because we are together that we can build a better health future for all of us. Jean Sung: I want to thank our distinguished speakers for your advice, offering us the facts, the science behind the vaccines, as well as the collaboration between the academia and the private sector to continue, I think, to foster partnerships that will allow our scientists to continue to investigate, to develop different studies, analysis that will help us to be more efficient, more resilient with any future pandemics.
Dr. Kirsty Short: I think this year, science-especially in this field-has accelerated at just this unprecedented rate. And whilst it's been a very tough year, it's also incredible to see what science can achieve, and what we can achieve in terms of public health and in terms of responses when that science is applied to public policy properly independent of politics.
Dr. Kirsty Short: I think it's important to not overlook the role of treatments and therapies in this. That there is now a global push to develop these treatments that are not restricted to one viral infection, can be used to multiple viruses. So what we can do in terms of pandemic preparedness is stockpile these treatments so when the next virus spills over from an animal host, we at least have something on hand to treat people.
Ian Frazer: Equally important will be maintaining surveillance in potential animal communities that may transmit these viruses to humans. Almost every virus that causes problems in humans starts life is a relatively non-pathogenic virus in an animal. And if we could keep a monitor on what's going on in the animal populations around us, then we are ready to be prepared for the viruses that will come out of them, and we can almost anticipate when things will go wrong and when we'll have to deal with the next virus that comes from an animal host.
Paul Young: I think there's a growing awareness that to effectively combat a pandemic such as this, one that has spread around the globe, that if you want it controlled in your country, it needs to be controlled in all countries. So I think those decisions are being realized, that there is benefit in philanthropic assurance that there is global coverage of vaccines.
Jean Sung: it's only because we are together that we can build a better health future for all of us.
The COVID pandemic has presented an immense challenge to humanity; taking the lives of more than 1.3 million and profoundly disrupting the way most of humanity’s ordinary daily lives from lockdowns to social distancing.
In recent weeks, news of successful clinical trials for potential vaccines has given hope, and with that, further questions about the next steps for vaccine manufacturing and rollout.
The Asia Philanthropy Centre at J.P. Morgan Private Bank recently hosted an online discussion with three scientists from the University of Queensland (UQ) who have been at the forefront of vaccine development.
Professor Ian Frazer is the co-inventor of the technology behind the Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines, which are currently used worldwide to help prevent cervical cancer. For this achievement he was named as Australian of the Year in 2006. Joining Professor Frazer was Dr. Kirsty Short, a scientist in viral respiratory pathogens currently leading a research group at UQ's School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, and Professor Paul Young, who is currently a professor of virology and head of School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences at UQ.
The discussion was moderated by the Head of the Asia Philanthropy Center, Jean Sung, along with Mr. Lawrence Au, who is the recipient of the 2020 University of Queensland's Vice-Chancellor Alumni Excellence Award.
1. We can achieve incredible things, very quickly
“It's amazing that we've got as far as we have with the COVID-19 vaccine considering that we started with essentially zero knowledge at the beginning of this year,” said Professor Ian Frazer.
“We've got to the stage where we have at least six vaccines that are potentially going to be available in a relatively short time.” For context - Professor Ian Frazer’s HPV vaccine took 15 years to roll out.
“Science–especially in this field–has accelerated at just this unprecedented rate,” said Dr. Kirsty Short. “Whilst it's been a very tough year, it's also incredible to see what science can achieve, and what we can achieve in terms of public health and in terms of responses when that science is applied to public policy properly independent of politics.”
2. Our individual actions can impact a lot of people
The development and rollout of a vaccine is the ultimate weapon for tackling the virus, however, behavioural change is also a massive lifesaver, according to Professor Frazer.
“The practical reality is that the way that we will keep ourselves clear of this virus is by distancing ourselves from others, by following all the hygiene rules that we've been given, and probably also by wearing face masks if you're in an environment where many people have got the infection.”
“So it's really important that we understand that these rules will have to be followed, and that while they are annoying, they're a lot less annoying than lockdowns.”
These lessons may have also triggered a profound shift in how we view our health in relation to others.
“Pre-COVID, if you had a cold and you came to work, you were tough because you were working through it and pushing on,” said Dr. Short. “And now if you have a cold and come to work, you would go home straight away because you can infect everyone else. It will be interesting to see if that attitude persists.”
3. We need to keep monitoring animal health
Almost every virus that causes problems in humans starts life as a relatively non-pathogenic virus in an animal.
“One of the key reasons we're seeing a lot more of these spillover events in recent years is that humans are slowly encroaching upon spaces where we've never lived before,” said Dr. Short. “So of course, we're going to be exposed to new viruses that our immune system has never seen before, and that can potentially lead to a pandemic.”
“If we could keep a monitor on what's going on in the animal populations around us, then we are ready to be prepared for the viruses that will come out of them, and we can almost anticipate when things will go wrong,” said Professor Frazer.
“This is again just one more example of how it's both human and animal health that we need to be thinking about in the future,” said Dr. Short. “We can't just be solely focused on human health, because it's inextricably linked with that surveillance and that understanding of animals and also the environment around us.”
4. Virus treatments are also critical
“I think it's important to not overlook the role of treatments and therapies in this response,” said Dr. Short.
There is now a global push to develop treatments that are not restricted to one viral infection, but can be used on multiple viruses.
“One of the big advantages of many therapeutic targets is that they are targeted against proteins or functions of viruses that have quite a lot of commonality across different members of the same group,” said Professor Paul Young. “So a therapeutic design against SARS may have a strong efficacy against another coronavirus that emerges, whereas vaccines do tend to be very specifically targeted to the particular strain that emerges at one time.”
“So what we can do in terms of pandemic preparedness is stockpile these treatments, so that when the next virus spills over from an animal host, we at least have something on hand to treat people,” said Dr. Short.
5. Globalization is a strength and a weakness
Professor Young says that intercontinental travel has allowed viruses to be rapidly transported around the world.
“So many people can now move from one place on the globe to any other place on the globe within a 48-hour period, which is a perfect incubation period for a respiratory pathogen.”
Nonetheless, that same interconnectedness has also enabled a truly global response to the pandemic.
“I genuinely believe we would not have been able to make the progress that we've made this year if it hadn't been for the global preparation and preparedness over the last two to three years,” said Professor Young, who explains that the inauguration of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) was based on the global realization that a pandemic was just around the corner.
Indeed, the global response to COVID-19 has been hailed for the widespread sharing of information and capabilities that has flowed between both public and private organizations across the globe.
“I think this foresight has played a large part in allowing us to progress as rapidly as we did,” said Young.
6. Philanthropy can play a role
Among the diverse mix of actors working towards the pandemic response, philanthropy also has a role to play.
“I think we've proven that investment in science actually leads to answers to questions,” said Professor Young. So what I'd like to see in the future is a realization that ongoing funding and support of basic science is critical to any society's endeavors.”
Professor Ian Frazer’s groundbreaking HPV vaccine started as a result of a collaboration with a Chinese colleague, Dr. Jian Zhou, who he met while on sabbatical at Cambridge University. That work became possible largely because of a philanthropic grant from a farmer in North Queensland, in Australia, “who decided that he would take a punt on a young scientist couple who were working on a particular project,” explained Frazer.
For COVID-19 to be defeated, it can’t just be controlled in one country–it needs to be controlled in all countries. This means that a global rollout of a successful vaccine–however expensive it has been to produce–is critical.
Professor Frazer explains that the philanthropy of the industrial world, as well as the philanthropy that supports medical research, “can make sure that vaccines can be delivered into the developing world effectively and achieve a reasonable coverage in a reasonably short period of time.”
We can help
If you want to learn more about how you can assist in the development of responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, please reach out to your J.P. Morgan team member to learn more.
