INNOVATIONS in pharmacy

Africa's vaccines manufacturing revolution: Lessons from COVID-19, ongoing efforts, and challenges to overcome

Olivier Sibomana

Department of General Medicine and Surgery, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2226-3883

Marie Grace Uwizeyimana

Department of General Medicine and Surgery, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda

https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5073-0380

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24926/iip.v16i3.6592

Keywords: vaccinology, vaccine production, capacity building, Africa

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Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant disparities in global vaccine production and distribution, with Africa being disproportionately impacted. Despite accounting for 17% of the global population, the continent received only a small fraction of the initial global vaccine supply. Currently, 99% of vaccines used in Africa are imported, with only 1% produced locally. The pandemic underscored the critical need for Africa to achieve self-sufficiency in vaccine production, highlighting the importance of developing manufacturing capacity for future pandemic preparedness and the eradication of infectious diseases. In response, Africa has set a target to locally produce 60% of its vaccine requirements by 2040, supported by initiatives such as the Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM), the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA), and the Regionalized Vaccine Manufacturing Collaborative (RVMC), along with other considerable efforts. Despite progress, challenges related to infrastructure, human resources, and financing remain. This paper aims to describe Africa’s vaccine manufacturing revolution, drawing lessons from COVID-19, exploring ongoing efforts, and addressing the challenges that must be overcome to achieve vaccine independence in the near future.