Gavi mobilizes US$50M First Response Fund to fight Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak

SWITZERLAND—Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has announced the release of up to US$50 million through its First Response Fund (FRF) to strengthen the global response to the ongoing Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak.

The allocation represents the maximum amount the Gavi chief executive officer can approve without additional board authorisation, reflecting the urgency of the emerging public health threat.

Of the total package, up to US$40 million will support vaccine development and access, while US$10 million will go directly toward immediate outbreak response activities in affected regions.

Dr. Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, emphasized that although a licensed vaccine for Bundibugyo virus is not yet available, early investment is critical to prepare manufacturing systems in advance.

She noted that proactive financing ensures that once vaccine candidates prove successful, producers can immediately scale up production without delays that often hinder outbreak containment.

Vaccine access acceleration strategy

The US$40 million allocation will be used to stimulate high-capacity vaccine manufacturing by supporting developers working on leading Bundibugyo vaccine candidates.

Gavi will design financial incentives, including advance purchase commitments, to ensure manufacturers commit to large-scale production even before final clinical trial outcomes are confirmed.

This approach aims to shorten the gap between regulatory approval and real-world deployment during emergencies.

Additionally, Gavi plans to encourage developers to pursue rapid regulatory pathways, including the World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Use Listing and prequalification processes, which are essential for global vaccine deployment.

These mechanisms are expected to significantly improve readiness for future outbreaks by ensuring that investigational doses can be distributed quickly once efficacy is demonstrated.

Coordinated global health partnerships

Working in close collaboration with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi is aligning its financing model across the full vaccine development pipeline.

While CEPI focuses on early-stage research and “push” funding for innovation, Gavi provides “pull” financing that incentivizes large-scale production and late-stage development readiness.

This complementary structure is designed to streamline vaccine development from laboratory research to population-level distribution.

The initiative will also involve coordination with World Health Organization, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, and UNICEF to ensure alignment with national outbreak response plans and immunization priorities.

Gavi further indicated that African-based manufacturers will be supported through its African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator, helping strengthen regional production capacity and equitable access.

Emergency outbreak response funding

In parallel with vaccine investment, Gavi will immediately disburse US$10 million to support frontline outbreak response efforts.

This funding will help countries implement national containment strategies, protect healthcare workers, and maintain essential immunization services that may be disrupted during public health emergencies.

It will also support preparedness measures for potential future vaccine deployment.

Gavi confirmed that it will continue refining the structure of its financing mechanism in partnership with CEPI and other global stakeholders in the coming weeks.

This will ensure that funding is tailored to the technical and operational needs of vaccine developers and manufacturing partners involved in the Bundibugyo response effort.