Child vaccination public-private partnership Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has appointed global health leader Professor Helen Rees as its Vaccine Investment Strategy (VIS) steering committee chairperson. Rees is an expert in vaccine implementation and delivery, vaccine research and development, regulatory science and infectious disease epidemiology.

Rees is the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) RHI executive director. Wits RHI, established by Rees in 1994, is the university's largest research institution that focuses on human immunodeficiency virus, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases and vaccines, reproductive health and climate change and health.

Further, the VIS Steering Committee guides Gavi’s evidence-based process to identify new and under-used vaccines of the highest importance to Gavi-supported countries and with the greatest need for financial support. It enables Gavi to take stock of the vaccine landscape to assess the cost, impact, value and programmatic feasibility of relevant products.

The VIS also provides partners, manufacturers and Gavi-supported countries with key information to support planning over a longer time horizon, Gavi said in a statement.

As chairperson of the steering committee, Rees will provide guidance to Gavi’s process of developing the Vaccine Investment Strategy 2024, which is an 18-month evidence-driven process that will inform the Gavi board’s final investment decisions in June 2024, the organisation said.

The strategy will evaluate new vaccines and passive immunisation products anticipated to be available by 2030, as well as potential incremental investments for the existing Gavi portfolio and recommendations on vaccine prioritisation, particularly in a post-pandemic context.

“It is a privilege to have Prof Rees lead the VIS Steering Committee. She brings wide insights, experience, expertise and passion to the Gavi mission, as the Alliance moves to take stock of the vaccine landscape for the coming years. Prof Rees and the Committee’s input, guidance and support will inform Gavi and stakeholders in planning over a longer time horizon,” said Gavi head of policy Marta Tufet.

Further, Rees is a Personal Professor in the Wits Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Wits' flagship African Leadership in Vaccinology Expertise programme co-director.

Additionally, Rees is an Honorary Professor in the Department of Clinical Research at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and an Honorary Fellow in Murray Edwards College, Cambridge University. She has also received an honorary doctorate in Science from the University of London and an Honorary Doctorate in Laws from Rhodes University in recognition of her work in regulatory science.

“Rees brings extensive leadership experience in vaccine implementation and delivery, vaccine research and development and regulatory science, and infectious disease epidemiology.

“Rees is internationally renowned for her work in vaccines, HIV prevention and reproductive health. She has more than 250 publications and has received many national and international awards for her contributions to African and global health,” Gavi said.

Meanwhile, Rees has chaired numerous advisory groups and committees, including the World Health Organisation (WHO) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE), WHO’s Expert Committee on HPV vaccines and WHO’s HIV Vaccine Expert Committee. In her capacity as SAGE chair, she served on WHO’s Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety.

She currently chairs several WHO committees and working groups, including the African Regional Immunisation Technical Advisory Group and the IHR Emergency Review Committee on Polio; and is co-chair of WHO’s Ebola Vaccine Working Group and the COVAX Facility’s Independent Product Group. She is a member of the IHR Emergency Committee on Covid-19, and of the SAGE Working Group on Covid-19 vaccines.

She is also a member of several national bodies, including as chair of the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority, and serves as a member of South Africa’s National Advisory Group on Immunization and Ministerial Advisory Committee on Covid-19.