SENEGAL – Norway-based Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD), Africa have announced a partnership that will advance equitable access to vaccines in Africa.
The partnership will also contribute to the African Union’s goal of increasing African manufacturers’ share of vaccine supply to the continent to 60% by 2040.
The collaboration will boost the manufacturing of affordable vaccines at IPD’s facilities in Dakar, and reserve capacity to produce vaccines specifically for Global South countries during future outbreaks and pandemics to combat the kind of inequity that characterised the response to COVID-19.
CEPI is creating a new network of vaccine manufacturers in Global South countries to substantially increase the world’s capacity and capability to produce vaccines against emerging outbreaks and pandemic threats.
“The facility will ensure regional outbreaks are not neglected by deploying the latest technology for the greatest need,” said Amadou Alpha Sall, CEO of Institut Pasteur de Dakar, a non-profit foundation in Senegal’s capital.
IPD will initially receive up to US$15 million in grant funding over three years, with the option to extend the partnership’s scope and funding to a total of up to US$50 million over 10 years.
The first phase of the partnership will support the development and sustainability of IPD’s manufacturing facilities for routine and outbreak vaccinations across multiple vaccine technologies and prepare them to begin supplying vaccines to Global South countries within 100 days of a new pathogen being identified.
This timing is key to stopping future emerging disease outbreaks from becoming pandemics. Known as the 100 Days Mission, the goal is supported by the leaders of the G7 and G20 and industry executives and is at the heart of CEPI’s plan to end pandemics.
CEPI plans to invest up to US$120 million to establish a global network of vaccine manufacturers in Global South countries, near areas at high risk of disease outbreaks, with a particular focus on locations with proximity to CEPI’s priority pathogens (Chikungunya, Ebola, Lassa fever, MERS-CoV, Nipah virus, Rift Valley Fever).
Last month, CEPI and the Gates Foundation invested US$30 million in Aspen to support the agreement between the African vaccine maker and the Serum Institute.
“I think the system that we had in 2020 produced the only outcome that it could produce,” Hatchett said, referring to the unequal distribution of COVID vaccines to the detriment of much of the developing world.
“And if we want to change outcomes in the future, we need to change the system. And one of the most important changes is to support efforts in Africa and elsewhere to increase their vaccine self sufficiency.”
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