Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention is holding talks with Aspen Pharmacare to establish a long-term framework aimed at strengthening vaccine production across Africa, as part of broader efforts to reduce dependence on imports and improve the continent’s health security.
The African Union’s public health agency and Africa’s largest pharmaceutical company said discussions are focused on building sustainable markets for locally manufactured vaccines, following the vulnerabilities exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Africa faced severe supply disruptions and shortages.
Since the pandemic, African governments and health institutions have intensified efforts to expand local pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing capacity after the continent experienced major challenges in accessing global vaccine supplies.
Although Africa consumes more than one billion vaccine doses annually, it still imports the vast majority of its vaccines. The proposed cooperation seeks to reduce that dependence through a multi-year agreement designed to support local manufacturing capacity and strengthen supply security.
The discussions are focusing on identifying priority vaccine antigens, gradually increasing production volumes to tens or even hundreds of millions of doses per year, and ensuring pricing mechanisms aligned with market standards.
Both parties said that gaining a clearer understanding of Africa’s long-term health needs would help stimulate investment in vaccine manufacturing infrastructure and support more reliable access to vaccines produced on the continent.
Jean Kaseya described the talks as “an important step toward turning Africa’s vaccine manufacturing ambitions into a sustainable market reality.”
Aspen Pharmacare has previously stated its ambition to establish itself as a leading vaccine manufacturer in Africa. The company’s CEO, Stephen Saad, said Aspen’s investments in sterile manufacturing facilities in South Africa, combined with its advanced supply-chain infrastructure, would enable the large-scale local production of vaccines.
The two sides also said they would discuss procurement, financing, and risk-sharing mechanisms as part of efforts to build a more sustainable and resilient African vaccine industry capable of responding to future public health crises.