10 May 2021 - The potential health and economic value of a vaccine for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is self-evident given nearly 2 million deaths, “collateral” loss of life as other conditions go untreated, and massive economic damage.
Results from the first licensed products are very encouraging; however, there are important reasons why we will likely need second and third generation vaccines. Dedicated incentives and funding focused explicitly on nurturing and advancing competing second and third generation vaccines are essential.
This article proposes a collaborative, market-based financing mechanism for the world to incentivise and pay for the development of, and provide equitable access to, second and third generation COVID-19 vaccines.