PH
The first BioNTech site in Rwanda was inaugurated on Monday, December 18, and was attended by African dignitaries such as Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Nana Akuffo Addo of Ghana, and Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Chiarperson of the African Union.
An effort to increase access to mRNA vaccines across Africa, the German biotechnology company plans to establish its first vaccine production facility on the continent.
The drug manufacturer announced that it has established a manufacturing facility in Africa to produce vaccinations that would protect against a range of illnesses.
The CEO and co-Founder of BioNTech outlined the company’s objectives for Africa, saying, “We hope to help create a robust, sustainable vaccination ecosystem. The crux of our involvement in Africa is evident. Future vaccines must be developed in Africa, for Africa, taking into account both local requirements and international standards.”
The $150 million effort is an attempt by multiple agencies to prevent a recurrence of the vaccine distribution problems during the Covid-19 pandemic, where countries in the global south were not given the same priority as regions like Europe.
President Kagame hailed a game-chaging milestone.
“mRNA vaccines could not even be administered in Africa. It was said to be too complicated for our health systems. Then, when we embarked on this journey to manufacture these vaccines on our continent, we were told that it would take a minimum of 30 years […] That was all wrong. It is possible. And because it is possible, it is also necessary.”
The ceremony attended by the Prime Minister of Barbados and the European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen among other dignitaries.
BioNtech expects to finish building the factory in 2024 and begin operations the following year.
The company said it will employ about 100 local staff and train them in making a host of new vaccines using the latest mRNA technology.
Rwanda will then distribute the vaccines to the 55-member African Union bloc.
The Kigali facility is made from recycled shipping and sits on 35,000 square metres of land.
In April, the South African city of Cape Town hosted the opening of Africa’s first mRNA vaccination hub.
The World Health Organization provided funding for the Cape Town initiative, which is managed by the South African Medical Research Council, biotechnology business Afrigen, and biopharmaceutical company Biovac.
The hub may increase production capacity for additional drugs and products, including cancer treatments, insulin to treat diabetes, and maybe even vaccines against HIV, TB, and malaria.
