France, in collaboration with the African Union (AU) and GAVI (the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization), has set itself the goal of raising more than a billion US dollars in order to accelerate manufacturing vaccines in Africa. This ambitious initiative is at the heart of discussions at the Global Forum on Vaccine Sovereignty and Innovation taking place in Paris today.
This event brings together African Heads of State, Ministers of Health from different regions, the Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) and leaders of the pharmaceutical industry. At the center of this forum is the official launch of the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AAFMV) aimed at helping African countries achieve vaccine independence by producing 60% of their required doses by 2040.
This initiative, announced during WHO World Immunization Week in April, aims to address disparities in access to medicines and vaccines highlighted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The objective is to strengthen local production capacities to guarantee better vaccination coverage on the African continent, and thus reduce dependence on vaccine imports.
In a context where vaccination has become a major public health issue on a global scale, this collaboration between France, the African Union and GAVI demonstrates a common desire to strengthen vaccine production capacities in Africa, thus contributing to a better response to future health crises. This is a promising step forward which opens the way towards greater autonomy for African countries in matters of public health and vaccination.