How does the BRICS Vaccine R&D Center support vaccine affordability?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Correct Answer
By reducing production costs through joint research
Explanation
The BRICS Vaccine R&D Center supports vaccine affordability primarily by reducing production costs through joint research, technology transfer, and shared scientific expertise among member nations. Officially launched in March 2022, the virtual center acts as a collaborative network connecting leading research institutions and manufacturers from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. By pooling resources, co-developing manufacturing technologies, and streamlining clinical trials, the alliance minimizes redundant research expenses and optimizes mass production methods, making life-saving vaccines significantly more cost-effective for developing countries.
Key Points
The center's collaborative framework emphasizes active technology sharing and joint manufacturing capabilities to scale up production rapidly during public health emergencies.
By focusing on local manufacturing capacity within member regions, the initiative helps countries bypass expensive intellectual property premiums and long, high-cost international logistics chains.
A core objective of the BRICS Vaccine R&D Center is to promote global health equity by ensuring a steady, affordable supply of vaccines to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Additional Facts
The establishment of the center was initially proposed in the 2018 Johannesburg Declaration during the 10th BRICS Summit to counter unequal vaccine distribution worldwide.
The platform utilizes a hub-and-spoke model where each country designates a national national center (such as the Indian Council of Medical Research - ICMR in India) to coordinate domestic research with global partners.
Beyond pricing, the center focuses on establishing shared systems for the mutual recognition of medical products and regulatory standards to speed up vaccine approvals across borders.
Important Questions
Question: In which year was the virtual BRICS Vaccine R&D Center officially launched by the member nations?
Answer: 2022.
Question: Which type of countries is the BRICS Vaccine R&D Center primarily focused on supporting to ensure equitable and affordable vaccine distribution?
Answer: Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).