CREATION OF A TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND VACCINE MANUFACTURING CENTER
The World Health Organization last month inaugurated its mRNA vaccine technology transfer center in Cape Town.
Created by WHO during the pandemic to give low-and middle-income countries on the African continent equitable access to vaccines and other life-saving health products, the opening of this center is a historic milestone.
Vaccines against Covid (AfriVac 2121 version of the Moderna vaccine) and against other diseases: HIV, tuberculosis and malaria could be manufactured there in the future, knowing that South Africa currently relies on imports (90% vaccines are imported). It is expected that foreign manufacturers will transfer experiences and know-how to local institutions. WHO and its partners will provide quality control and facilitate obtaining production licenses.
The amount of the project amounts to 117 million dollars. It benefited mainly from the support of the European Union, France, Germany and Canada.
