The initiative aims to improve African pandemics, outbreaks, preparedness and responses
The EU, its Member States and European financial institutions have announced a more than €750m contribution to the newly launched African Vaccines Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA) as part of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy.
Over the next decade, the AVMA aims to purchase more than 800 million vaccine doses produced in Africa, making more than €1bn available to manufacturers to offset high start-up costs while providing assurance of demand.
Developed by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the AVMA has the potential to improve African pandemics, outbreaks, preparedness and responses, as well as to support global health security.
It aims to enhance the predictability of demand for vaccines made in Africa, support the growth of its manufacturing base and achieve its ambition to produce most vaccines required by African countries on the continent while also helping to diversify a set of global vaccine suppliers with a target of at least four African vaccine manufacturers entering the market in a sustainable way.
In addition, the initiative will promote equitable access to essential health products, technologies and primary healthcare services across several areas, including job creation, diversification of global value chains and innovation.
In alignment with the existing Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines and Health Technologies in Africa initiative, Team Europe is donating €2bn to the agenda to promote equitable access to quality, safe, effective and affordable health products in close collaboration with African and international partners.
The donation will help to create an enabling environment for the industry by training a skilled workforce in the sector, strengthening the regulatory environment and supporting African research and technology transfer.
Jutta Urpilainen, commissioner for international partnerships, European Commission, commented: “The AVMA is the next step forward in achieving the African ambition of producing 60% of vaccines locally.
“With this significant Team Europe investment…. we reaffirm our commitment to supporting Africa’s health autonomy and global preparedness against future health threats.”
