Vaccine manufacturing in Africa

Globally, vaccine manufacturing requires radical reconfiguration. Its current extreme geographical skew must change to ensure health security for all. Africa produces only 0.1% of the world’s total vaccine supply,1 but self-sufficiency would make its health systems more resilient and better prepared for public health emergencies, promote social cohesion and economic progress, and insulate countries from external actions.Africa continues to be left behind in access to countermeasures in the ongoing covid-19 pandemic.2 It is the continent with the lowest vaccination levels: just 30% of people have received a complete initial protocol.3 Covax, established to guarantee equitable global access to vaccines,4 was disrupted by funding shortfalls, “vaccine nationalism,” and hoarding by richer countries.56Lack of local vaccine manufacturing impedes polio elimination and leaves populations vulnerable to outbreaks of measles, malaria,7 human papillomavirus disease, and Ebola.8 A more evenly distributed system of manufacturing and stockpiling, informed by regional needs, could be more responsive to…
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