IN a significant step towards bolstering Africa’s vaccine production capabilities, Ghana’s Minister of Health, Bernard Okoe-Boye, led a delegation to South Africa on August 12, 2024. The visit, hosted by Biovac and the African Vaccine Manufacturing Initiative (AVMI), aimed to explore potential collaboration between African nations and manufacturers to enhance vaccine capabilities across the continent.
The Ghanaian delegation toured Biovac’s state-of-the-art vaccine manufacturing facility in Cape Town, where they observed the company’s advanced development and production processes. This visit underscored the importance of shared knowledge and resources in the journey towards achieving self-sufficiency in vaccine production in Africa.
Biovac CEO Morena Makhoana emphasised the significance of the visit, stating, ‘Biovac’s vision is to be Africa’s continental leader in vaccine innovation and manufacturing. The Ghanaian delegation’s visit provided an excellent opportunity to showcase our well-established vaccine operations and our ongoing product development and technology-transfer projects.’
Makhoana highlighted that Biovac’s commitment to vaccine innovation aligns with the African Union’s goal of producing at least 60 percent of the continent’s vaccine doses locally by 2040. ‘It is crucial for us to share the lessons we’ve learned with our African counterparts as Ghana embarks on a similar journey,’ he added.
Ghana’s Health Minister, Okoe-Boye, expressed his support for Biovac’s initiatives, noting, ‘We are fully committed to supporting Biovac’s efforts to build capacity and produce vaccines on the continent. We will ensure that the market is prepared to take up its products when they are ready
South Africa’s Deputy Director General of Health, Anban Pillay, praised the innovation showcased at Biovac, stating that it brings a sense of comfort to the continent. ‘Supporting local industries and enabling them to become self-sufficient is key to producing affordable vaccines for future pandemics,’ Pillay said.
The visit comes at a crucial time as Africa reflects on the challenges and lessons learned in vaccine manufacturing post-pandemic. It follows the European Union’s recent announcement of a €32 million initiative to enhance vaccine production in Ghana. William Ampofo, Executive Director of AVMI and CEO of the National Vaccine Institute in Ghana, expressed optimism about the initiative, emphasising the need to strengthen public-private partnerships in the pharmaceutical sector.
‘This visit aims to enhance collaboration between the two countries, focusing on opportunities for knowledge exchange, capacity building, and advancing public health and biotechnological innovation,’ Ampofo added.
The delegation, hosted by AVMI, included representatives from the South African and Ghanaian ministries of health, finance, the Food and Drugs Authority, vaccine manufacturing companies, and local research experts. The discussions marked a pivotal moment in Africa’s journey towards greater self-reliance in vaccine production and public health security.
