£950 Million Funding Announced to Boost Vaccine Production in Africa
Delegates at the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator conference have announced £950 million ($1.2 billion) in funding to boost vaccine production in Africa. The announcement was made at the Global Forum for Vaccine Sovereignty and Innovation in Paris on Thursday.
The Covid-19 pandemic revealed significant global disparities in vaccine access, with Africa experiencing severe shortages amidst ongoing health crises.
French President Emmanuel Macron described the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator as “an essential step towards a genuine African vaccine market”. Currently, Africa produces only 2% of its vaccines, with a target to increase this to 60% by 2040.
A cholera resurgence in many African regions has underscored the urgent need for local vaccine production.
Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye highlighted that the pandemic disrupted health systems and vaccination programmes, citing a UNICEF report from 2021 which noted that 23 million children missed basic vaccines at the height of the crisis.
The Gavi vaccine alliance, co-organiser of the forum, aims to raise £7.1 billion ($9 billion) for its programmes. Gavi plans to allocate up to £790 million ($1 billion) over the next decade to enhance Africa’s vaccine manufacturing capabilities, improve global vaccine markets, and strengthen pandemic preparedness.
The project will support African manufacturers upon meeting supply and regulatory milestones, leveraging market forces to lower prices and stimulate investment. It will also address technology transfer, the creation of an African medicines agency, and regulatory challenges posed by Africa’s diverse legal systems.
Source: Africanews
