Is it not remarkable how one initiative can set off a cascade of transformation? Such is the story of the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA), launched in the bustling month of June 2024. In less than a year, it has already drawn the contours of potential, marking profound shifts in Africa’s vaccine manufacturing landscape. This February, under Cairo’s sunlit skies, two groundbreaking alliances have signaled the dawn of a new era in health security across the continent.

Amidst the lively discussions at the 2nd Vaccine and Other Health Products Manufacturing Forum, hosted with esteemed partners such as the African Union (AU), Africa CDC, and Gavi, two key collaborations took center stage:

• EVA Pharma (Egypt) has inked a pioneering agreement with DNA Script (France), alongside Belgian innovators Quantoom Biosciences and Unizima. Their collaboration aspires to create Africa’s inaugural digital-to-biologics mRNA development and production hub. Picture this: a facility capable of churning out up to 100 million doses of RNA-based vaccines annually, a crucial shield against infectious diseases. Imagine the potential impact of local production boosting regional independence.
• Biogeneric Pharma (Egypt) and Afrigen (South Africa) have freshly augmented their Memorandum of Understanding, aiming to advance mRNA platform technology. What serendipity unfolds when Northern and Southern African manufacturers synchronize their expertise for the shared vision of health self-reliance! By honing in on diseases uniquely affecting the region, this collaboration exemplifies how shared aspirations can weave advancements in health technology.

AVMA, thoughtfully architected by Gavi in collaboration with the AU, Africa CDC, and other stalwarts, stands as a beacon of hope. Unveiled in June 2024, it has already drawn commitments worth a staggering US$ 1.2 billion from a consortium of sovereign and philanthropic patrons. Who would have thought that in ten years, we could lay the groundwork for downstream incentives, especially targeting unmet public health needs?

How does AVMA manage to capture the imagination of so many? It offers incentives for priority vaccines, emphasizing those within the spectrum of critical market needs. Essentially, it sends a clarion call to potential investors, urging them to partake in a narrative that threads health security with economic viability. By doing so, it steers Africa toward the ambitious goal set by the African Union: producing 60% of the continent’s vaccine needs by 2040. Isn’t progress breathtaking?

Today, Africa’s vaccine demand surpasses US$ 1 billion annually, a figure expected to climb as its burgeoning population expands. Yet, the harsh truth remains: the continent supplies just 0.1% of the global vaccine market. Achieving the AU’s vision necessitates an all-hands-on-deck approach, focusing on regulatory frameworks, infrastructure enhancements, and human resource development.

Leveraging Gavi’s extensive experience as a premier vaccine procurer, AVMA positions itself to influence, reshape, and nurture the African vaccine landscape. It’s hard to ignore the resonance of a billion children vaccinated by Gavi programs, isn’t it? A force driving immunization and forming a cornerstone of global health resilience.

But AVMA’s narrative extends beyond protection. It seeks to bolster health systems with agility, bracing them for encounters with threats like cholera, Ebola, COVID-19, and mpox. As African governments advocate for replenished Gavi funding from 2026 to 2030, the urgency is palpable. Can you imagine a world where immunization coverage sees a meteoric rise, bolstered by sustainable manufacturing endeavor?

David Kinder, Gavi’s Director of Development Finance, remarked: “These new partnerships are a testament to AVMA’s ability to foster strategic partnerships across geographies that address unmet public health needs while contributing to Africa’s health security.”

The path forward calls for coherence, commitment, and cooperation. As AVMA continues to forge new frontiers, it empowers African invention, blazing a trail toward health autonomy. In David Kinder’s hopeful words, “Together, we can lay the groundwork for a safer, healthier future for all.”