Gavi Allocates $1 Bn to Accelerate African Vaccine Manufacturing & Access

Funding for the "African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator" comes from residual funds in the COVAX initiative, established during the pandemic to facilitate vaccine distribution to the world's poorest nations.

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has launched "African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator," a scheme that will make up to $1 billion available to enhance vaccine production in Africa.

This initiative aims to address the vaccine access disparities experienced by the continent during the COVID-19 pandemic and utilise locally produced vaccines to combat diseases including cholera and malaria, which significantly impact African children.

The African Union (AU) has set an ambitious goal for the continent's vaccine manufacturing industry, targeting over 60% of the total vaccine doses needed by 2040, a significant increase from the current 1%.

Several initiatives were launched across Africa in response to COVID-19, but some faced challenges, particularly high startup costs and reduced demand as the pandemic waned.

Funding for the accelerator comes from residual funds in the COVAX initiative, established during the pandemic to facilitate vaccine distribution to the world's poorest nations.

Gavi's board approved the initiative after consultations with the AU, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other partners. The launch is scheduled for June 2024 at an event hosted by the Africa CDC and France.

David Kinder, Gavi's director of Development Finance, noted the accelerator's key objective, saying, "The big aim here is to have a pot of money set aside for a ten-year period to enable a sustainable African vaccine industry to be produced.”

Manufacturers will receive payments upon World Health Organisation approval of their vaccines. Additional payments will be made if companies secure bids to supply vaccines through Gavi, facilitating competitive pricing for African-made vaccines compared to products from other regions.

This approach allows African countries to choose locally manufactured vaccines at competitive prices. The accelerator focuses on addressing diseases including cholera. It incorporates new technologies such as viral vector and mRNA vaccines, which proved transformative during the COVID-19 pandemic and could play a crucial role in future health crises.

During the Gavi meeting in Accra, Ghana, the board approved approximately $290 million in plans to support the "catch-up" of routine immunisations for children severely impacted by pandemic-related disruptions. A $500 million "first response" fund was also endorsed to ensure immediate financial support when a new pandemic arises.

The launch of the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator signifies a crucial step toward self-reliance and health security for Africa, aligning with the continent's aspirations for greater vaccine production and accessibility in the coming years.

Established in 2000, GAVI, officially known as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is a global health partnership that operates as a public–private collaboration headquartered in Washington, DC. Its primary objective is to enhance access to immunisation in economically disadvantaged nations.