Pfizer and BioNTech had developed a highly effective mRNA-based vaccine to target the COVID-19 virus. This has been in use in several countries and has helped reduce the number of infections and deaths.
There were an estimated 229 million cases of Malaria and at least 409,000 deaths in 2019, according to WHO. According to the WHO’s latest world malaria report, more than 1.5 billion cases of malaria and 7.6 million deaths have been averted since 2000 through global efforts to control the disease. “mRNA technology has shown itself to be a game-changer to end the pandemic, and the EIB confirmed its support for this innovative approach with two loans to BioNTech, one in 2019 for developing cancer treatments and the other in 2020 for research on the COVID-19 vaccine.
Mr Leyen said this initiative is also a part of the broader engagement by the EU for health in Africa and the developing world.
This will be a game changer if it succeeds.