Gavi Alliance Board Chair Weighs in on Africa’s Vaccine
The upcoming 37th ordinary session of the African Union (AU) is poised to tackle many pressing issues, ranging from pre- and post-election violence to humanitarian crises and advancements in health. This assembly, convening the Heads of State and Government of the AU, is scheduled to commence on Saturday in Addis Ababa.
Jose Manuel Barroso, the former president of the European Commission and current Chair of the Board of the Gavi Vaccine Alliance, underscored the critical importance of prioritizing the social sector, particularly in health and education. Barroso commended the AU for articulating a clear strategy in these areas, urging leaders to persist in prioritizing them.
The notable development highlighted is the construction of the first mRNA vaccine factory in Rwanda, reflecting Africa’s efforts to address the challenges faced during the global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. Barroso expressed optimism about the continent’s future capabilities in vaccine manufacturing, aiming to avoid the distributional injustices witnessed in recent times.
A notable highlight is the announcement of the construction of Africa’s first mRNA vaccine factory in Rwanda. This initiative signifies the continent’s proactive steps in addressing the challenges encountered during the global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. Barroso expressed optimism about Africa’s future capacity in vaccine manufacturing, aiming to mitigate the distributional injustices observed in recent times.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) disclosed last October that plans to bolster vaccine manufacturing capacity in Africa, if realized, could more than double the projected vaccine demand by 2030. A briefing paper jointly released by the Africa CDC, the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), and PATH provided valuable insights into Africa’s current and planned vaccine manufacturing landscape. The AU assembly is anticipated to delve into these crucial issues, aiming to fortify the continent’s resilience and capabilities in addressing health challenges.
