$1.2 billion deals to put Africa on a vaccine manufacturing path

The vaccine production agreements, signed in Cairo during the 2nd Vaccine & Other Health Products Manufacturing Forum, aim to pave the way for expanded local vaccine production and enhanced cross-continental collaboration.

Currently, although the demand for vaccines in Africa exceeds $ 1 billion annually, the continent's vaccine industry accounts for only about 0.1% of global supply.

The African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA), launched in June 2024 to stimulate investment in Africa’s vaccine manufacturing ecosystem, has seen the signing of two new collaborations aimed at enhancing health security. The first partnership involves EVA Pharma in Egypt, in collaboration with DNA Script in France, and Quantoom Biosciences and Unizima, both based in Belgium. This initiative will establish the first end-to-end mRNA development and production platform in Africa, focusing on rapid responses to infectious disease outbreaks, supporting routine immunisations, and ensuring the affordability of vaccines.

The second agreement, between Biogeneric Pharma in Egypt and Afrigen in South Africa, aims to strengthen their partnership in developing an mRNA platform, a technology that utilises the body's own biological processes to potentially treat diseases and prevent infections. According to Gavi, this collaboration between the northern and southern regions of the continent exemplifies how African manufacturers can unite towards a common vision of health security and self-reliance.

Gavi highlights that the climate crisis is a significant factor in the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases in Africa. This occurs through climate-sensitive diseases, such as the expansion of vectors into new regions, disruptions to immunisation and essential health services, and an increase in extreme weather events. African countries, especially those in fragile and humanitarian settings, are often severely affected when disasters occur, as they possess fewer resources and less capacity to respond to health emergencies, making them more vulnerable to infectious disease spillover and outbreaks.

Some of the vaccine-preventable diseases in Africa, worsened by climate change, include cholera, malaria, meningitis, typhoid, and yellow fever. Cholera and typhoid are food- and waterborne diseases that are addressed through routine immunisations and outbreak responses. Malaria and yellow fever are vector-borne diseases, also managed through various vaccine programmes and emergency campaigns. Meningitis is transmitted through respiratory means.

Climate change has intensified cholera outbreaks in Cameroon following severe floods in the Far North region in September 2024. The outbreak, reported on 8 November 2024, affected 127 individuals and resulted in two community deaths. The floods contaminated water sources, increasing the risk of cholera transmission in a region already grappling with poor sanitation and limited access to safe drinking water. Hosting thousands of refugees, the area has experienced cholera outbreaks every two years since 2010.

The local vaccine manufacturing deals, which hold promise for addressing infectious disease challenges, will be a big addition to a continent that has historically struggled with vaccine production. This transformation will lead to more jobs, increased investment opportunities, and a sustainable healthcare system for Africa.

Africa has long depended on other regions for its vaccine supply. This inequitable global health structure creates access barriers and leaves the continent vulnerable. In response, African leaders established the Partnership for African Vaccine Manufacturing with the aim of locally producing 60 percent of Africa’s vaccine needs by 2040. This initiative has sparked international collaboration from Gavi and other partners, paving the way for a sustainable vaccine manufacturing landscape in Africa.

As of June 2024, PATH reported 25 active vaccine projects across the African continent, each at varying stages of development. Five manufacturers have commercial-scale production facilities with signed or ongoing technology transfers, while another five have similar facilities but have yet to sign technology transfers. Additionally, 15 manufacturers are in earlier developmental stages. These initiatives highlight Africa’s increasing efforts to enhance vaccine production capacity and create investment opportunities within these established projects.