Delegates announce $1.2 billion in funding to produce vaccines in Africa

World leaders, health groups, and pharmaceutical firms have announced a $1.2 billion in funding to produce vaccines in Africa, at the Global Forum for Vaccine Sovereignty and Innovation in Paris on Thursday.

The Covid-19 pandemic exposed gaping global inequalities in access to vaccines, including in Africa which is facing numerous health crises.

French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the critical nature of this initiative. Speaking at the forum, Macron declared that the establishment of the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator marks “an essential step towards a genuine African vaccine market.” He highlighted the current situation where Africa manufactures only two percent of the vaccines it uses. “Our goal is that by 2040, Africa’s vaccine production will increase to sixty percent,” Macron stated, underscoring the ambitious nature of the project.

“Africa produces only two per cent of the vaccines it uses and the goal that we have set is that by 2040, that production is increased to sixty per cent,” he said.

Global Forum for Vaccine Sovereignty and Innovation has set the stage for a transformative shift in Africa’s healthcare landscape. The $1.2 billion funding pledge signifies a collective commitment to rectifying vaccine access inequalities and empowering Africa to take charge of its health future. With the goal of increasing local vaccine production to sixty percent by 2040, this initiative holds the promise of a healthier and more resilient Africa.