“African horse sickness, Rift Valley fever, and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) are just some of the animal diseases that have caused panic among veterinarians and farmers this year. One question is constantly asked: would vaccines be available if we experienced an outbreak?
This is where a vaccine bank (also called a vaccine stockpile or strategic vaccine reserve) can play an important role, as it is potentially the single most powerful tool against disease control for both government and the private sector.
It’s important to note that vaccine banks focus on proven vaccines, and not those that still need to prove their worth. In other words, this is not about new developments, but rather about cherishing and maintaining the old.
While these banks have been used extensively elsewhere in the world
