Africa aims to supply at least 20% of its vaccines by 2040

Crucial to get ball rolling to catch Covid-19 window of opportunity, experts say

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention presented an ambitious vision for the continent to start producing its own vaccines during a two-day virtual conference this week.

The continent imports 99 per cent of the vaccines it uses, despite accounting for 25 per cent of global vaccine demand. Africa CDC’s vision would see the continent produce 20 to 60 per cent of its vaccines by 2040. Vaccine manufacturing will be driven by a hub in each of Africa’s economic regions: East, West, Southern, Central and North.