A $1.1 billion project to accelerate vaccine production in Africa was announced in Paris, with French President Emmanuel Macron and several African leaders supporting the initiative. The African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator will provide financial incentives to boost local vaccine manufacturing in the continent, with the goal of reducing Africa’s reliance on imported vaccines, which currently make up 99 percent of its supply. The European Union has pledged $800 million to the project, which aims to offset start-up costs and ensure demand for vaccines made in Africa.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the inequalities and lack of access to vaccines in Africa, with many countries facing delays in receiving doses. Helen Rees, Executive Director of Wits RHI at the University of the Witwatersrand, emphasized the need for greater equity in vaccine access in the region. The World Health Organization and advocacy groups are working to help Africa better prepare for future pandemics, with WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressing the importance of reaching low-income countries and communities with vaccines in a timely manner to save lives.
Before the annual meeting last month, WHO attempted to establish a “pandemic treaty” to improve preparedness and response to pandemics, but the project was put on hold due to disagreements over sharing information about pathogens and the tools needed to combat them. Negotiators will resume discussions with the goal of finalizing a deal by the next WHO annual meeting in 2025. The event in Paris, attended by leaders from various African countries, also focused on supporting the funding of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which seeks $9 billion to expand vaccination programs in developing countries from 2026 to 2030.
Gavi Chief Executive Sania Nishtar outlined the alliance’s goal of reaching the highest number of children and providing coverage against a wide range of diseases in the shortest possible time. The project aims to offer more vaccines, including expanding the roll-out of a malaria vaccine that began in Cameroon this year. The funding boost aims to accelerate the availability of vaccines in developing countries and ensure better access to essential immunizations. By investing in vaccine manufacturing in Africa and supporting initiatives like Gavi, leaders hope to address the disparities in vaccine access and strengthen the continent’s ability to respond to future health crises.
The new vaccine initiative in Africa is seen as a significant step towards establishing a genuine African vaccine market and reducing the continent’s dependence on imported vaccines. By providing financial incentives and offsetting start-up costs, the project aims to support sustainable growth in Africa’s manufacturing base and contribute to the African Union’s ambition of producing most vaccines required by African countries on the continent. The Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator represents a collaborative effort between African leaders, the EU, and other partners to address the challenges of vaccine access and ensure that Africa is better prepared for future pandemics.
