A senior board member of the WHO said the project of producing an African-based covid19 vaccine will take time. This comes after the South African state delayed talks with a US production company.
They had plans to create Moderna’s vaccine, which is a replication of US health company. Members admitted that if the negotiation will not take place, then the project will die, a report by Reuters. Many developing countries in Africa have had a rough time accessing the vaccine. The available samples distributed are not enough to cater to everyone. This is the main driver of producing their own samples. Developed countries are always at the forefront of buying all the produced doses.
The US company, Moderna said it would not put restrictions on any company planning to copy its production methods. They are open to any negotiations to prevent the drug from running short. Their main goal is to ensure everyone in the world gets the vaccine.
The WHO confirmed that it’s very ambiguous to replicate a drug without knowing its production process. It has to take time in order to be aware of what is required. Tech hub in southern Africa has been backed up by the health organization to push over the vaccine. The deal is still in the process.
WHO is having an issue with production companies around the world. Recently, there was a battle between the organization and Moderna over the way that company helps others. Also, those companies take most of the drugs to rich countries without considering the developing countries. This simply indicates inequality.
Almost 4.5 billion human beings are yet to receive the vaccine across the world. The number mainly comes from middle and poor countries which result in two-thirds of the total population. When we come to Africa, 97% are yet to get the vaccine. A report from the African Union Health Officer shows that three-quarters of Spain have received the vaccine. More than half the number in the US are vaccinated.
Companies feel it’s more secure to have a partnership with Moderna over other companies. Frede, the African Union chief, said Moderna had been chosen as the head to avoid the shortage issue. The deadline set is almost dodging, he said that the South African companies should start making chemical orders from Europe.
However, they will need some top workers from Moderna companies to set up a pace. Trainers and teachers with knowledge of production will be imported for some time to accelerate the process. The first African-made vaccine might go viral in mid-year 2022.
In early May 2021, the U.S. promised to help African nations willing to manufacture samples of the Moderna vaccine. But some pharmaceutical firms have opposed the issue because the technological process of manufacturing is hard.
South Africa has received the highest number of doses since the distribution process kicked off. Pfizer partnered with BioNTech and promised to offer almost 100 million doses in various countries in Africa.
The WHO is in a struggle to force Pfizer and Moderna to collaborate with tech hubs from Africa. Some producers are sad that if many companies swarm in production, there will be high competition for raw materials. Also, some companies may end up making fake unqualified doses which might affect the people.
South African tech hub Afrigen Niologics will produce the first doses, then transfer the knowledge to BioVac found in Cape Town. Fred said they are willing to pay to access information about the process of manufacturing. Companies should feel free to share the information with trusted individuals and not everyone.
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