44TH GENERAL SESSION OF THE EUFMD COMMISSION
ONLINE 21-22-23 APRIL 2021
Report on the status of FMD antigen and vaccine banks in Europe Presented by Kiril Krstevski and Charlotte Rendina, EuFMD (Appendix 5)
Key Messages: 1. The output of the PRAGMATIST tool helps vaccine bank managers to determine the most important strains to maintain in the banks. It is recommended that vaccine bank managers explore the use of the tool to quantify the extent of coverage and gaps in their holdings. 2. Approximately 31,466,000 doses across five serotypes and 13 antigens are being held (excluding the central EU bank). Most of the antigen strains indicated by PRAGMATIST as having high coverage scores are well represented across the national banks. Notable exceptions are A-Malaysia 97 strain, which covers a specific part of the risk and is held in only one national antigen bank, and A-G VII, hold in two national banks. 3. Contingency plans and operational capacity to implement emergency vaccination are a critical component of FMD emergency preparedness. EuFMD MNs would benefit from continued participation and collaboration through the FMD emergency preparedness network; 85% of the countries responding to the survey indicated an interest in continued participation in or joining the FMD emergency preparedness network. 4. Eleven countries hold stocks of vaccine for other TADS. The extent to which this could be an issue depends on the capacity of the suppliers to provide suitable quality and quantity of stocks in an emergency rapidly.
Summary of replies to the Vaccine Bank Questionnaire Following two EuFMD surveys that were conducted in 2017 and 2019, an online survey was issued in February 2021 with a questionnaire sent to the 39 EuFMD Member Nations. The results showed that approximately 31,466, 000 doses across five serotypes and 13 antigens are held by MNs in their national vaccine and antigen banks, excluding the EU antigen bank. This showed a reduction from earlier surveys that showed 38 and 39 Million doses in 2017 and 2019 respectively. The survey demonstrated that eight EuFMD MN hold these vaccines and antigens (or have other arrangements such as commercial contracts with a third party) for the supply of FMD antigen for emergency use, comprising four EU member nations and four nonEU member nations. It was also noted that 78% of all antigen doses are held by two countries. Compared to the previous report from 2019, this is a reduction of one country (one EU MN responded that has no longer a vaccine bank). Seven out of eight countries estimated that time needed for formulation and delivery of the vaccines is a week or less; one country estimated up to ten days would be needed. Antigens in relation to risks The output of the PRAGMATIST tool (chart below) provides recommendations of FMDV vaccines to be included in antigen banks. It is based on an analysis of the latest epidemiological data collected by the OIE/FAO FMD Laboratory Network regarding FMDV lineages present in different source regions, as well as available data to score the ability of vaccines to protect against these FMDV lineages.
20
