MSF responds to agreement between Aspen Pharmacare and Serum Institute of India to produce four routine vaccines in South Africa – South Africa

MSF responds to agreement between Aspen Pharmacare and Serum Institute of India for production of four routine vaccines in South Africa

31 August 2022

Candice Sehoma, MSF Access Campaign Advocacy Advisor in South Africa:

“This is a great example of South-South cooperation and is welcome and long-awaited news.

“African countries have always relied on international exports to access these four life-saving vaccines, so being able to source them from a manufacturer on the African continent will be an important step forward.

“While this agreement is a step in the right direction, it still involves production of the actual drug substance outside the African continent and Aspen is only ‘filling and finishing’ the vaccines, so the agreement to include drug substance production is not required.” Should be expanded and other African manufacturers are also included.

“The long-term goal should be that vaccines be produced entirely on the African continent, beyond reliance on drugs produced elsewhere. The global community must support this goal both economically and politically.

“Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, must formally commit to procuring vaccines made on the African continent and fulfill the call of the African Union to purchase 30% of future vaccines from African manufacturers.

“More information about the countries involved in the agreement should be made public.”

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