Blog Grid – AVMI

A new era of vaccine sovereignty in Africa beckons

A new era of vaccine sovereignty in Africa beckons.

Africa launched a new era of vaccine sovereignty this week, when government and industry leaders convened in Addis Ababa to map out a vaccine manufacturing strategy for the continent.

At the meeting, the AU announced a partnership with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations to establish five vaccine production sites (one each in North, East, West, Southern and Central Africa). John Nkengasong, the head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, said that within 20 years Africa must endeavour to manufacture 60% of vaccines used on the continent.

What it will take to vaccinate the world against COVID-19

What it will take to vaccinate the world against COVID-19.

Within just a few months, pharmaceutical firms have produced hundreds of millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccine. But the world needs billions — and as fast as possible. Companies say they could make enough vaccines to immunize most of the world’s population by the end of 2021. But this doesn’t take into account politically based delays in distribution, such as countries imposing export controls — or that the overwhelming majority of doses are going to wealthier countries. This situation is fuelling a campaign to temporarily waive intellectual-property rights so that manufacturers in poorer countries can make the vaccines more quickly themselves.

Broad manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccines in Africa a ‘very tall order’

Broad manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccines in Africa a ‘very tall order’.

24 MARCH 2021 – Increasing the manufacturing capacity for COVID-19 vaccines in Africa could help ensure that the continent doesn’t “have to beg for vaccines when there is an outbreak,” said William Ampofo, chair of the African Vaccine Manufacturing Initiative.

What is Africa’s vaccine production capacity?

What is Africa’s vaccine production capacity?

19 MARCH 2021 – COVID-19 vaccination in Africa is gathering pace, with more than 7 million doses so far administered. However, the continent received vaccines later than other regions of the world and in limited quantity. A few weeks after launching vaccinations, some countries are nearly exhausting their initial supplies. Professor William Ampofo, chairperson of the African Vaccine Manufacturing Initiative, discusses vaccine manufacturing in Africa.

Covid-19: WHO Africa expects third berth within weeks

Covid-19: WHO Africa expects third berth within weeks.

18 MARCH 2021 – WHO’s regional director for Africa says a third wave of Covid-19 is expected in several countries in the coming weeks and encourages states to continue vaccination campaigns without pauses.

Vaccine production in Africa: an urgent priority

Vaccine production in Africa: an urgent priority.

10 MARCH 2021 – Africa produces less than 1% of the human vaccines it uses. To effectively respond in time of outbreaks and pandemics, Africa must expand its vaccine development and production capabilities to cater for its growing population. Successfully establishing such an industry at scale is a multifaceted endeavour to create an enabling environment. This article highlights key factors and considerations for establishing local vaccine manufacturing.

Picture: AVMI/Merck

Review: As Coronavirus Rises Past Three Million, Africa Still Lacks Its Own Vaccine

Review: As Coronavirus Rises Past Three Million, Africa Still Lacks Its Own Vaccine.

14 JANUARY 2021 – With its large population and fragile health systems, Africa has recorded more than three million Covid-19 cases, still less deadly as compared to other regions in the world, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). According to Africa CDC, Africa’s coronavirus tally was 3,021,769 as of January 10. The death toll was 72,121 and the number of recoveries was 2,450,492. The biggest number of coronavirus cases were reported from South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, and Ethiopia.

World’s first fully liquid vaccine to be locally manufactured by CT-based Biovac

World’s first fully liquid vaccine to be locally manufactured by CT-based Biovac.

19 NOVEMBER 2020 – Cape Town-based bio-pharmaceutical company Biovac has begun local manufacturing of global pharmaceutical company, Sanofi Pasteur’s six-in-one paediatric hexavalent vaccine, Hexaxim.

This is the world’s first fully liquid vaccine. It was introduced in South Africa in 2015 where Biovac was labelling and packaging the vaccine. It has now been approved by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) for manufacturing under sterile conditions.

Africans must be involved in vaccine trials.

Africans must be involved in vaccine trials, and prepare now for day one of the vaccine availability.

29 AUGUST 2020 – In an ideal world, communities should not be mere spectators but co-architects of health decisions impacting their well-being. Concerns around vaccine trials should be addressed and researchers should prioritize community engagement.

South Africa could be first in region to produce Covid-19 vaccine

South Africa could be first in region to produce Covid-19 vaccine.

South Africa may sign a deal to help produce a Covid-19 vaccine, potentially boosting access to immunization on a continent with limited manufacturing capacity.

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, a global organization funding vaccine development, is considering the Cape Town-based Biovac Institute as a fill-finish site, according to Helen Rees, the chair of the organization’s Scientific Advisory Board.

The state vaccine company is one of few in the country that has the capacity to package doses into sterile dispensers if clinical trials are successful.

African Union aims to scale up COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials

African Union aims to scale up COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials.

10 JULY 2020 — Currently there is only one clinical trial of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate in sub-Saharan Africa, taking place in South Africa. But the African Union and World Health Organization, among others, are hoping that the number of clinical trials will increase across the continent to ensure that any successful vaccines that come to market will actually work for African populations and that they will be accessible to people across the continent.

HIV raises the risk of death from COVID-19 in South Africa’s Western Cape