The Government of Indonesia and Norway based CEPI, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations,  have announced that Indonesia will provide a financial contribution of $1 million to support CEPI’s efforts to advance the development of vaccines against epidemic diseases.

The commitment was formally made at a virtual signing ceremony by Secretary General of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Cecep Herawan and CEO of CEPI, Dr. Richard Hatchett, and witnessed by the Indonesia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Her Excellency Retno L.P. Marsudi. The signing marked Indonesia’s membership in the coalition.

Provided through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Indonesia’s financial contribution will further vaccine programmes against Nipah, alongside CEPI’s other target diseases – Lassa Fever, Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), Rift Valley fever, Chikungunya, and Ebola – and the advancement of rapid-response platforms to quickly develop vaccines in response to an unknown threat (known as ‘Disease X’). The overall collective goal of the partnership is to strengthen national and global health security and the world’s ability to prepare and combat future disease threats.