Six African countries to establish mRNA vaccine production: WHO
Categories: Covid 19
World Health Organization Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on Thursday announced that Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia will be establishing mRNA vaccine production.The announcement was made at a ceremony hosted by the European Council, France, South Africa and WHO in the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, said WHO statement. The announcement was made at a ceremony hosted by the European Council, France, South Africa and WHO in the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, said WHO statement."This is an initiative that will allow us to make our own vaccines and that, to us, is very important. It means mutual respect, mutual recognition of what we can all bring to the party, investment in our economies, infrastructure investment and, in many ways, giving back to the continent," said Ramaphosa. "The President of the European Council asserted the need to create an environment where every scientist, health worker, and government can band together for a common cause. "Working together to build new solutions to protect what is most precious - our health and our lives."The global mRNA technology transfer hub was established in 2021 to support manufacturers in low- and middle-income countries to produce their own vaccines, ensuring that they have all the necessary operating procedures and know-how to manufacture mRNA vaccines at scale and according to international standards, read WHO statement. "This is an initiative that will allow us to make our own vaccines and that, to us, is very important. It means mutual respect, mutual recognition of what we can all bring to the party, investment in our economies, infrastructure investment and, in many ways, giving back to the continent," said Ramaphosa."The President of the European Council asserted the need to create an environment where every scientist, health worker, and government can band together for a common cause. "Working together to build new solutions to protect what is most precious - our health and our lives." WHO and partners will work with the beneficiary countries to develop a roadmap and put in place the necessary training and support so that they can start producing vaccines as soon as possible, added the statement. The initial effort is centred on mRNA technologies and biologicals, which are important for vaccine manufacturing and can also be used for other products, such as insulin to treat diabetes, cancer medicines and, potentially, vaccines for other priority diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and HIV. The ultimate goal is to extend capacity building for national and regional production to all health technologies, said the statement.