The remarkably rapid development and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines offers valuable lessons for stakeholders working to prevent Lassa fever, which has been ravaging West African countries for decades. If governments follow this blueprint, they could demonstrate the power of local leadership in shaping global health initiatives.
LONDON – The COVID-19 pandemic may have exposed the vulnerability of the world’s health systems, but it also led to a truly impressive achievement: the development and production of life-saving vaccines more quickly than ever before. As our focus shifts to other public-health challenges, we must harness these technologies and apply the lessons learned during the pandemic to address other deadly diseases that require urgent attention. One of these diseases, Lassa fever, has been ravaging West African countries for over 50 years, and yet there is still no vaccine to prevent its spread.
LONDON – The COVID-19 pandemic may have exposed the vulnerability of the world’s health systems, but it also led to a truly impressive achievement: the development and production of life-saving vaccines more quickly than ever before. As our focus shifts to other public-health challenges, we must harness these technologies and apply the lessons learned during the pandemic to address other deadly diseases that require urgent attention. One of these diseases, Lassa fever, has been ravaging West African countries for over 50 years, and yet there is still no vaccine to prevent its spread.