Accelerating innovation for vaccine sovereignty & immunisation

Africa is facing a critical challenge in the field of vaccine manufacturing, with the continent currently producing only one percent of the vaccines it consumes. This significant deficit has been highlighted by the African Union, which has set a target for the continent to produce 30 percent of its vaccines by 2030. The total pharmaceutical industry in Africa is estimated to be worth $30 billion, further underscoring the trade deficit in vaccine manufacturing. CNBC Africa recently spoke with Dr. Stavros Nicolaou, Group Senior Executive, Strategic Trade at Aspen Pharma Group, to discuss the progress and obstacles in local pharmaceutical manufacturing development on the continent. Dr. Nicolaou highlighted the need for sustainable vaccine manufacturing capabilities in Africa, emphasizing the importance of international procurement agencies placing orders with African facilities as a measure of success. While there has been marginal progress in developing local capacities and capabilities, Dr. Nicolaou noted that more needs to be done to bridge the gap and achieve vaccine sovereignty in Africa. One key initiative aimed at bolstering vaccine manufacturing in Africa is the African Vaccine Manufacturer Accelerator, a $1 billion facility launched by Gavi to support capacity building on the continent. Despite such efforts, the ultimate measure of success lies in international agencies procuring vaccines from African producers, signaling a significant step forward in achieving vaccine sovereignty on the continent. Dr. Nicolaou also outlined three crucial points that need to be addressed to advance local manufacturing in Africa. First, vaccines need to be registered by the country of origin and receive World Health Organization pre-qualification to expedite the regulatory process. Secondly, international procurement agencies must start placing orders or guaranteed offtakes with African companies to stimulate demand and sustain local manufacturing capacities. Lastly, African governments need to embrace a pool procurement mechanism to support local companies and foster a culture of buying from within the continent. By executing on these key points, Dr. Nicolaou believes that Africa can successfully address the vaccine manufacturing deficit and pave the way for future health crises, such as the rising challenge of non-communicable diseases like diabetes. Overall, closing the inequality gap in vaccine manufacturing through collaboration and strategic initiatives is crucial for Africa's health security and sovereignty in the years to come.