Building a local vaccine capability critical in the era of health challenges
With the recent outbreak of mpox following the Covid-19 pandemic, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof. Blade Nzimande, called for an innovation-led health economy with an industry able to produce and supply vital vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.
The Minister opened the 7th BIO Africa Convention, which brings together innovators, and stakeholders from the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and healthcare industries among others, on 24 August.
Taking place under the theme, "Ensuring health security by investing in vaccine innovation and manufacturing," the BIO Africa Convention follows last week's signing of the second Presidential Health Compact. The compact seeks to provide a framework for cooperation between critical stakeholders in South Africa's health sector to contribute to quality health outcomes.
"Calling for 'improving access to medicine, vaccines, and health products' and 'developing information systems and pandemic preparedness', the second Presidential Health Compact aligns perfectly with the objectives of our Decadal Plan for Science, Technology and Innovation as it relates to health innovation," said the Minister.
The Minister said the Department of Science and Innovation's support for the second Presidential Health Compact is also inspired by the African Union's target for the continent to produce 60% of the vaccines needed in Africa by 2040.
The Minister said the devastating Covid-19 pandemic had provided insightful lessons.
"As you may recall, South Africa, like much of the developing world, found itself at the mercy of grossly inhumane, selfish and outright immoral actions by the governments of most industrialised countries, which monopolised and controlled the flow of life-saving therapeutics and vaccines during the pandemic," stated Prof. Nzimande.
In a bid to ensure vaccine development and manufacturing, the Department is investing and supporting the building of this capacity through the Vaccine Innovation Manufacturing Strategy (VIMS).
The strategy aims to promote the domestic design, development and production of vaccines, and targeting Rift Valley fever, human papillomavirus, respiratory syncytial virus and Hepatitis B, among other diseases.
Minister Nzimande underscored the government's commitment to supporting the biotechnology industry, particularly by fostering an environment conducive to research, innovation and commercialisation.
"Research and development, production and distribution, supported by strong incentives for a vaccine manufacturing sector, will generate high-skilled employment and drive technological innovation and ancillary industries, especially in cold-chain logistics and transportation.
This, we believe, will position our country as a leader in the biopharmaceutical industry on the African continent. And this calls for a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to get the levers in place," he remarked.
Dr Lawrence Banks, the Director-General for the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, commended the DSI and South African government for the VIMS initiative, saying that it offered amazing opportunities for vaccine production and independence, not only for South Africa, but for the whole of the African continent.
If Africa could become self-sufficient in developing therapeutics and vaccines, this would have a global impact, added Dr Banks. "We know the next pandemic is around the corner. If that happens in Africa, and there is local surveillance, diagnostic and vaccine capability, it can be stopped in its tracks, so it is extremely important globally."
Dr Abebe Genetu Bayih, Acting Leader of Local Manufacturing of Health Commodities at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said that if innovation and discovery research were not promoted, sustainable manufacturing in Africa would not be possible.
"Discovery research and development for health products in Africa is nascent and is limited to a handful of research institutes and academic institutions in Africa. Therefore, African governments, continental and international organisations, academia and philanthropic organisations must be deliberate in their interventions so that we will have a strong innovation, research and development ecosystem in Africa," said Dr Bayih.
He also encouraged the government to support the advancement of innovation and manufacturing in all health production areas.
The 2024 BIO Africa Convention, with its packed itinerary of informative workshops, presentations and exhibitions, ends today.
Issued by the Department of Science and Innovation.
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