The Lassa Fever Coalition says its high-level roundtable at the 2025 World Health Summit in Berlin, Germany, is to sustain the Abidjan Ministerial gathering and advance co-financing discussions for lassa fever vaccine development.
The coalition was led by the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) with support from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).
Speaking on Thursday, the WAHO Director-General, Dr Melchior Aïssi, said that the meeting reaffirmed Africa's leadership in shaping its own health security priorities.
The roundtable summit with the theme "Taking Responsibility for Health in a Fragmenting World" brought together African institutions, development partners, research and civil society organisations.
Participants included the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organisation, and the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative.
Others are the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership, Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, and European Union partners.
The discussions focused on innovative funding mechanisms aimed to accelerate the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, - the recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Lassa fever vaccine candidate.
The participants explored ways to ensure alignment with ongoing programmes and strengthening of regional vaccine manufacturing capacity, as part of the 100 Days Mission and the broader pandemic preparedness agenda.
"We are determined to ensure that Africa not only participates in vaccine development but also leads in equitable access and manufacturing. The lassa fever vaccine effort represents a vital step towards that vision," Aïssi said.
The Chief Executive Officer of CEPI, Dr Richard Hatchett, said that the initiative demonstrated how global and regional collaboration could fast-track epidemic preparedness.
"Developing a safe and effective Lassa fever vaccine is not only a scientific priority but also a moral imperative. Working together with African partners, we can build a future where outbreaks are contained before they become crises," he said.
Hatchett noted that regional leadership, sustained political commitment and coordinated financing were critical to translating pledges into tangible outcomes.
NAN further reports that the lassa fever vaccine initiative is now regarded as a pathfinder for epidemic preparedness and health security in West Africa and beyond. Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness, endemic in parts of West Africa, transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated with rodent urine or faeces.
The disease, which causes thousands of infections and deaths annually, poses a major public health threat due to its potential for outbreaks and limited treatment options.
Efforts to develop a vaccine have gained global attention, with the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) leading the development of the recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (rVSV) Lassa fever vaccine 'candidate'.
Supported by CEPI and African partners, the candidate is currently undergoing clinical trials aimed at providing long-term protection for populations in high-risk areas.
The Lassa Fever Coalition, established under the leadership of the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), serves as a regional platform to coordinate political commitment, funding and research collaboration.
It was also to accelerate vaccine development and strengthen health security across West Africa.