**Fatshimetry**
A major turning point took place this Thursday, June 20 in Paris, with the announcement of more than a billion dollars in contributions to strengthen local vaccine production in Africa. This strategic investment aims to establish an ambitious vaccine production accelerator on the continent, marking a crucial shift in the quest for sovereignty and innovation in the field of health in Africa.
The financial aid deployed during the Forum for Vaccine Sovereignty and Innovation in Africa represents a tremendous step forward for the continent. The ultimate goal is to support African vaccine manufacturing initiatives to reduce the current dependence on imports, which still account for 99% of the continent’s vaccine supply. This change of direction proves crucial, as African countries struggle to access affordable vaccines, unlike the richer nations which dominate the global market.
The African leaders present, alongside representatives of the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) and the African Union (AU), expressed their firm desire to join forces to boost health financing in Africa. Gavi, a major player in the supply of vaccines at affordable prices for the most deprived countries, has also launched its refinancing plan for the coming years, with requests for additional financing amounting to nine billion dollars. Efforts to mobilize the resources needed for the vaccine production accelerator have been successful, with funding pledges exceeding $1 billion.
This notable progress demonstrates the common desire to establish vaccine sovereignty on African soil. The observation is clear: autonomy in terms of vaccines remains particularly weak in Africa, a situation that must be reversed to guarantee the health and well-being of the continent’s populations. Moussa Faki Mahamat, representative of the African Union, insists on the fact that vaccine and health sovereignty constitutes an essential pillar, compared to traditional political sovereignty.
The emergence of an African vaccine manufacturing accelerator, backed by substantial funding via Gavi, paves the way for the establishment of factories to produce vaccines against diseases such as cholera, which are on the rise on the continent. . In this context, equipping Africa with vaccine manufacturing structures becomes a vital priority. Jean Kaseya, director of the African Union Center for Disease Control and Prevention, rightly underlines the imperative for Africa to be able to produce its own vaccines locally, thus marking a first step towards real autonomy in this crucial area public health.
In short, this bold initiative reflects a collective awareness of the need to strengthen local vaccine production capacities in Africa. Beyond public health, this is a major issue for the future of the continent, paving the way for health and vaccine sovereignty, an essential pillar of sustainable and equitable development in Africa.