The African Union has resolved that by 2040, 60 percent of vaccines used in Africa will be produced locally
African countries are ready to manufacture vaccines to help stop various disease outbreaks thanks to their solid research capacity, President William Ruto told the Assembly of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Sunday, February 18, during a meeting on vaccine manufacturing organized by the International Vaccine Institute.
The head of state said that the Covid-19 pandemic exposed gaps in Africa’s healthcare system, thus the need to create home-grown solutions and enable environment for vaccine manufacturing in Africa.
“This is underpinned by our solid research capacity in vaccines. Kenya, for instance, participated in the Covid-19 vaccine trials,” he said.
Ruto added that the continent was the last to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, and that it is time to ensure that vaccines are available and accessible to all, without exclusion or discrimination, regardless of nationality, wealth or social status.
“This situation will change for the better. AU has resolved that by 2040, 60 per cent of vaccines used in Africa will be produced locally. This is underpinned by our solid research capacity in vaccines. Kenya, for instance, participated in the Covid-19 vaccine trials,” Ruto said in a statement posted on X platform, formerly Twitter.
Besides Ruto, heads of states who attended the meeting on vaccine manufacturing include President Mohamed al-Menfi of Libya and Brahim Ghali (Sahrawi). Others were Ahmed Hachani, Tunisia Prime Minister, IVI Director general Jerome Kim and Jean Kaseya, Director general of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa-CDC).
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