Breaking the cycle: building vaccine manufacturing capacity in Africa.

7 DECEMBER 2022 – On November 8, 2002, Charlotte Barker, Editor, of Vaccine Insights, spoke to Patrick Tippoo about building vaccine manufacturing capacity in Africa. This article has been written based on that interview.

The COVID-19 pandemic had brought inequities in access to vaccines into sharp relief and highlighted the importance of manufacturing vaccines within low and middle-income countries. The road ahead has many challenges but with optimism and perseverance, I believe we can build a more sustainable vaccine ecosystem in Africa.

Why vaccine independence is so important for Africa.

DECEMBER 2022 – During the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw warp-speed development of vaccines in some parts of the world. But for Africa, the pandemic highlighted the urgent need to build capacity on the continent to develop and manufacture much-needed vaccines. This is something the African Vaccine Manufacturing Initiative (AVMI) has been advocating for over 10 years.

Biovac Signs Deal to Develop and Manufacture Oral Cholera Vaccine for African and Global Markets.

23 NOVEMBER 2022 – South African based Bio-pharmaceutical company, Biovac, has concluded a ground-breaking licensing and technology transfer agreement with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), a non-profit international organisation headquartered in South Korea, for the manufacture of an oral cholera vaccine (OCV).

Expanding sustainable vaccine manufacturing in Africa: Priorities for Support.

NOVEMBER 2022, The pandemic has highlighted new and pressing challenges to regional vaccine supply resilience as a critical factor in global health security. While 1.8 billion doses1 of COVID-19 vaccine have been shipped under COVAX, including 0.6 billion to Africa, early delays in obtaining doses on the African continent stimulated new resolve to address future supply security. 

Biovac and Development Partners Collaborate to Support South Africa’s Vaccine Manufacturing Expansion and Advance Long-Term Health Security Across Africa.

1 MARCH 2022 – To support South Africa and the African continent increase vaccine manufacturing capacity and reduce reliance on imports, a consortium of nine development and finance institutions have today announced a partnership with Biovac in Cape Town, South Africa to support Biovac’s vaccine manufacturing expansion.

Global Health Security Requires Pandemic Prevention.

26 OCTOBER 2021 – COVID-19 has cost the world millions of lives and trillions of dollars, and it will not be the last time we face such a threat. But there’s hope, say the diverse and influential experts featured in our seventh documentary episode: it’s within our power to prevent another devastating pandemic. Learn why we must not wait to invest in key pandemic preventions like universal influenza vaccines. 

How can Africa transform from a vaccine desert to a vaccine hub?

26 OCTOBER 2021 – To accelerate the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccines across the continent, Africa is taking steps to boost homegrown vaccine manufacturing capacity and cut its 99 per cent import rate.