The African Union commits to boost local vaccine production across the continent to cover more than 60% of its needs by 2040. The initiative emerged because Africa received only one vaccine dose for every three doses available worldwide by July 2022.
Creating local vaccine production in Africa faces major barriers because this work needs 500 different materials and African plants now provide just 1% of regional vaccines. Africa CDC and CEPI initiated the African Vaccine Manufacturing Supply Chain Forum as their first event in Nairobi Kenya. During three days Africa CDC and CEPI studied vaccine production problems and built strategies to increase vaccine manufacturing across the continent.
Through CEPI funding The MindCo did research that found various ways to break through current vaccine production obstacles. Manufacturers and suppliers need better relationships while vaccine producers should obtain domestic material sources and coordinate one material format across all vaccines. The effort works to set up an online system for better vendor purchasing plus develop multiple vaccine production methods including filling methods.
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According to Matthew Downham from CEPI’s manufacturing division and Abebe Genetu Bayih the medical commodities leader at Africa CDC. Through Lead Local Manufacturing of Health Commodities at Africa CDC these measures develop a robust vaccine supply chain that works both for routine immunizations and handles new outbreaks.
