The Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) was established by the European Commission on 16 September 2021. It is responsible for crisis preparedness and response to public health emergencies. On 1 February 2023, Dr Wolfgang Philipp, Deputy Director of HERA, and Christian Wimmer, HERA Senior Expert, visited the Center for Pandemic Vaccines and Therapeutics (ZEPAI) at the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut in Langen, Hesse. The event was also attended by representatives of the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG). The intensive exchange of information with the ZEPAI management team, researchers, and Paul-Ehrlich-Institut management included discussions on potential cooperation in the future.
Dr Joachim Bug, Head of Production and Deputy Head of ZEPAI, Christian Wimmer, HERA Senior Expert, Prof Isabelle Bekeredjian-Ding, Acting Head of ZEPAI, Dr Wolfgang Philipp, Acting Director of HERA, and Dr Lars Nickel, Head of the Pharmaceuticals Subdivision at the BMG
Source: F. Wöhrle/Paul-Ehrlich-Institut
The focus of the meeting was on the presentation of ZEPAI, which was established by the BMG at the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut as the German counterpart to HERA in October 2021. Since then, the ZEPAI has been making the necessary preparations to ensure that Germany is better prepared for future pandemics. Professor Isabelle Bekeredjian-Ding, Acting Head of ZEPAI, presented the responsibilities and structure of the pandemic centre. The ZEPAI division heads then gave insights into the tasks of the distribution, legal and vaccine production departments. Another presentation focused on how ZEPAI and HERA can work together to design and implement pandemic preparedness.
Updated: 03.02.2023
