The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), in collaboration with Team Europe, the African Vaccine Manufacturing Initiative (AVMI), and the Ghana National Vaccine Institute (NVI), has convened a three-day workshop in Accra to advance technology transfer for vaccine production on the continent.
In a statement on Tuesday, Africa CDC explained that the workshop is designed to review and validate a draft companion guideline on technology transfer in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. The initiative is part of broader efforts to strengthen Africa’s vaccine manufacturing ecosystem and reduce reliance on external suppliers.
The programme falls under the African Union’s Partnership for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM), launched in 2021 to ensure the continent produces at least 60 percent of its vaccine needs by 2040. The AU has since expanded the framework into the Platform for Harmonised African Health Products Manufacturing (PHAHM), which also covers medicines, diagnostics, and other essential health products.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Simon Agwale, Vice Chair of the AVMI Board and Chair of its Technology Working Group, stressed the urgency of achieving vaccine self-sufficiency.
“Despite representing 17 percent of the global population, Africa currently produces less than one percent of its vaccines. The best time to act was 20 years ago—the next best time is now,” he said.
Agwale identified key African manufacturers—such as Biovac (South Africa), Innovative Biotech and Biovaccines (Nigeria), Afrigen (South Africa), and the Institut Pasteur de Dakar (Senegal)—as emerging leaders in vaccine research and production. These organisations are prioritising vaccines for diseases including malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, Lassa fever, Ebola, COVID-19, and HPV.
He noted that initiatives like PHAHM and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) are central to achieving the 2040 target of producing 60 percent of Africa’s vaccine requirements locally.
By the close of the workshop, organisers expect to finalise the draft guideline, providing regulators, manufacturers, and partners with a practical framework to align efforts and accelerate vaccine self-reliance.
The gathering brought together participants from 15 African countries, including representatives of vaccine manufacturers, national regulatory authorities, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other technical partners. The draft guideline builds on a consultative meeting held earlier in Johannesburg and will be refined to ensure its effectiveness for African manufacturers.