Africa vaccine manufacturing drive gains pace as partners line up support

Friday 28th November 2025

by inAfrika Newsroom

The Africa vaccine manufacturing drive gathered speed this year as Africa CDC and partners deepened support for local plants and skills. Leaders want the continent to produce 60 percent of its vaccine needs by 2040, up from less than 1 percent before Covid-19.

In 2024, heads of state agreed to upgrade the Partnership for African Vaccine Manufacturing into a wider health-products platform. The new Platform for Harmonized African Health Products Manufacturing now covers diagnostics and other medical tools as well as vaccines.

Since then, Africa CDC has mapped 574 manufacturers, including 25 that focus on vaccines. Three firms could obtain World Health Organization prequalification for eight vaccines between 2025 and 2030. That step would open doors to global procurement.

The Africa vaccine manufacturing drive also gained backing from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Its policy committee endorsed a US$1 billion pledge for African manufacturing, with final approval expected at a board meeting in Ghana.

In parallel, Africa CDC and UNICEF expanded cooperation on immunisation systems and vaccine demand. Strong factories need strong delivery chains; otherwise, doses will sit in warehouses.

However, challenges remain. Plants require long-term purchase commitments, skilled teams and reliable power and water. Regulators must also coordinate standards so one approval can unlock several markets.

Next steps

In the coming months, governments and partners will confirm which plants receive early support under the Africa vaccine manufacturing drive. The focus will fall on sites that can scale quickly, respect high quality standards and serve regional markets.

Regulators plan more joint reviews and reliance procedures. These tools allow agencies to share work and speed up decisions without lowering safety. Training programmes will target scientists, technicians and regulators to close persistent skills gaps.

Financiers, meanwhile, are testing blended models that mix grants, equity and guarantees. Such tools can spread risk in a capital-intensive sector.

Why it matters for Africa vaccine manufacturing drive

The Africa vaccine manufacturing drive aims to avoid a repeat of the Covid-19 crisis, when African countries waited at the back of global queues. Local plants, strong regulators and reliable demand can shorten those waits and give the continent more control.

Beyond emergencies, a healthy manufacturing base can create skilled jobs, support research and keep more value on the continent. For citizens, the impact should appear as steadier supplies, closer clinics and more resilient health systems.