Strategic Dialogue on Local Production of Vaccines in South Africa
South Africa’s efforts to build a sustainable vaccine manufacturing value chain gained new momentum this week as government, industry and international partners came together for a strategic dialogue on local vaccine production, co-hosted by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), Biovac, GIZ and in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO).
The dialogue highlighted Cape-Town based vaccine producer Biovac’s progress toward achieving
WHO prequalification for its Oral Cholera Vaccine, which is currently in clinical trials.
WHO prequalification serves to ensure that vaccines procured by UNICEF, governments and other organizations for immunization programs meet international standards of quality, safety and efficacy. It can streamline approvals, speed up vaccine access, and boost demand for locally made South African vaccines.
Prequalification is a key milestone that will position Biovac as a South African company among the first African manufacturers to meet international quality standards and access GAVI’s African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA) incentive instrument. The AVMA is an initiative by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, that aims to boost vaccine production across Africa by providing financial incentives and market support to local manufacturers.
During the panel discussions, participants reflected on how policy, regulation and investment can
further strengthen South Africa’s role as a regional hub for vaccine production.
Opening the event, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Hon. Blade Nziman****de, underlined the South African government’s commitment to strengthening the innovation ecosystem for health security: “As South Africa, we reaffirm our commitment to global and regional cooperation and ensuring that the African continent is equipped with the required scientific tools and skills to secure its health sovereignty. Through our Department of Science, Technology and Innovation and other relevant government departments, we will continue to promote partnerships that harnesses cutting-edge scientific and technological innovations topromote inclusive and equitable health for all, especially the most marginalised sections of society.”
The Ge****rman Ambassador to South Africa, Andreas Peschke, emphasized the value of international cooperation: “South Africa is the frontrunner on the continent when it comes to biotechnology. We cooperate to unleash its full potential.” The EU Ambassador to South Africa, Sandra Kramer, added: “The objective of producing the vaccines that Africa needs locally is no longer a pipe dream - it is a reality. South Africa stands at the forefront of this transformation, with Biovac and other industry actors leading the way.”
WHO Unit Head, Product Policies, Access and Manufacturing Support Unit - Dr Jicui Dong - outlined: “Today’s strategic dialogue is both timely and essential. It brings key partners together to align efforts across the value chain, ensure that every part of the vaccine-manufacturing ecosystem moves in step, and sustain the technical and financial support needed to advance excellence, quality, and sustainability in vaccine manufacturing in South Africa.”
Following these remarks, Professor José Manuel Barroso, Chair of the Gavi Board, concluded by emphasizing how South Africa’s growing vaccine manufacturing capacity contributes to global health security. He noted “We at Gavi are committed to helping drive the establishment of a thriving vaccine manufacturing industry in Africa. Through Gavi’s African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator, we have an innovative finance mechanism in place that will incentivize investment in the end-to-end vaccine value chain, contributing to resilient global vaccine supply chains, pandemic preparedness, and equitable access.”
South Africa is one of only a few African countries with end-to-end vaccine production capabilities. The country’s ambitions are aligned with the African Union’s target to produce 60% of the continent’s vaccine needs locally by 2040. These efforts are supported by the German Government and the European Union through the GIZ SAVax programme, which supports Biovac in achieving the WHO prequalification for their oral cholera vaccine through technical assistance. This is part of the wider Team Europe Initiative: Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines,
Medicines and Health Technologies (MAV+), whereby the EU and Member States have committed over EUR 700 million to the development of the pharmaceutical value chain in South Africa, and over EUR 2 billion across six Sub-Saharan African countries.
Two panel discussions featuring representatives from government, WHO, South African Health
Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), the private sector and academia highlighted the technical credibility and growing maturity of South Africa’s vaccine ecosystem. The discussion explored how recent achievements in strengthening local vaccine production can be built upon to shape a sustainable and competitive manufacturing base for the future.
Representatives of different ministries and multiple stakeholders discussed and underlined the importance of coordinated action to advance and sustain local vaccine manufacturing. Global partners emphasized the need for continued dialogue and collaboration on how best to create an enabling environment for African companies to grow and compete in the global market.
The GIZ SAVax programme is co-funded by Germany and the European Union (EU) and implemented in partnership with the South African Department of Science, Technology and Innovation and Department of Health. The funding is part of the Team Europe Initiative on manufacturing and access to vaccines, medicines and health technologies in Africa (MAV+), which aims to bolster local vaccine and pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity and access to health technologies on the continent.
