News24.com | Need for SA to establish vaccine manufacturing ecosystem for African continent - study

A nurse prepares the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

• A VacTask group study says the South African government must establish a manufacturing ecosystem for the African continent.
• It adds the government should establish a special biotechnology and vaccine manufacturing cluster. 
• South Africa should provide expertise and support to the leadership of the African Medicines Agency, the study says.

A new study has found the South African government has an opportunity to accelerate and establish an integrated, competitive, and cohesive local vaccine manufacturing ecosystem for the African continent.

The study by the VacTask group came after Dr Wilmot James - an internationally recognised thought leader in biosecurity, global health, and pandemic preparedness, together with Sir Jeremy Farrar, the World Health Organisation's chief scientist - said they were approached by Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan on behalf Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla, Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel and Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister Dr Blade Nzimande.

The group is an independent advisory entity viewed as a "front runner" for Partnership for African Vaccine Manufacturing.

It had to assess South Africa's potential to produce end-to-end vaccines and make strategic recommendations to turn an aspiration for vaccine independence into a reality.

READ | Mumps outbreak in South Africa confirmed by National Institute for Communicable Diseases

Speaking to News 24 on Wednesday, James said Africa's population was ballooning, and vaccine demand on the continent was set to more than double in volume over the next decade, from approximately one billion doses today to more than 2.7 billion by 2040.

"Africa produces 1% of global vaccines, and the South African government can generate significant economic returns, job creation, positive health outcomes and infrastructure development by working with African countries."

James added within the year, the government should establish a special biotechnology and vaccine manufacturing cluster co-chaired by Phaahla and Nzimande.

He said:

James added they had recommended procurement policy should satisfy two key goals: de-risking and scaling South African vaccine manufacturing for continental consumption.

"To ensure local vaccine manufacturers are both competitive and have the ability to scale, the government should, at the executive and legislative levels, provide for preferential procurement for local producers across the vaccine manufacturing value chain."

He said the policies must accommodate changes in capital flow, human resource requirements, inventory management and sustainable contract management, adding:

The group also recommended regulations should be designed in a manner that was consistent with and supportive of promoting South Africa's biotech and vaccine manufacturing ecosystem.

"Without this underpinning, local producers will not be able to compete regionally and globally.

"South Africa should provide expertise and support to the African Medicines Agency [AMA] leadership.

"All relevant South African regulations should be harmonised with AMA rules and standards for local producers to access all AMA-ratified markets," read the recommendations.

James said only by opening vaccine distribution across the continent could South Africa's vaccine R&D and manufacturing be sustained.