Nairobi: Africa consumes nearly 25 percent of all globally produced vaccines, yet imports 99 percent of them, underscoring a critical dependency that proved catastrophic during the COVID-19 pandemic. The continent, home to over 1.4 billion people, faced severe vaccine shortages due to global hoarding and export controls, leaving its vulnerable populations at risk.
According to Global Voices, the glaring imbalance in global vaccine production sees Africa meeting just 0.2 percent of its vaccine needs domestically, while Asia, North America, and Europe produce the majority. In response, African leaders launched the Saving Lives and Livelihoods (SLL) initiative in 2021. This USD 1.5 billion strategy, spearheaded by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the Mastercard Foundation, aims to vaccinate 70 percent of the continent’s population and foster a self-reliant health security ecosystem.
The SLL’s first phase successfully delivered 35 million COVID-19 vaccine doses, distributed 6 million units of PPE, and expanded genomic sequencing labs across Africa. Looking forward, the Partnership for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM) aims to produce 60 percent of Africa’s vaccines by 2040.
Despite bearing 25 percent of the global disease burden, Africa remains largely excluded from vaccine science, with less than three percent of clinical trials occurring on the continent. Dr. Alemayehu Duga from Africa CDC emphasized the importance of clinical trials in protecting African lives, countering misconceptions of Africa as a mere testing ground.
The SLL initiative’s initial phase, covering 29 countries, improved health worker training, cold chain logistics, and achieved a 53 percent vaccination rate among target populations. However, the broader African Health Strategy highlights a need for greater investment, with many governments failing to meet the Abuja Declaration’s health funding commitments.
Notably, countries like Rwanda and Morocco have made strides in local pharmaceutical production, with Rwanda achieving over 90 percent immunization coverage among young children. Africa’s burgeoning vaccine manufacturing projects, spanning nations like Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya, aim to bolster regional capabilities, supported by the African Medicines Agency and Africa CDC’s regulatory efforts.
The COVID-19 pandemic underscored Africa’s vulnerability and the necessity of self-reliance in health security. In response, Gavi launched the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator with a USD 1.2 billion pledge over ten years, while Afreximbank committed USD 2 billion to health product manufacturing. The SLL’s second phase, backed by USD 638 million, is set to continue Africa’s journey towards vaccine sovereignty from August 2024 to December 2025.