Six African countries cleared to manufacture COVID-19 vaccines
The World Health Organisation (WHO) announced Friday that six African countries have been granted the right to manufacture vaccines that will bridge the glaring inoculation gap in the continent.
According to The East African, WHO Secretary-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom said on Friday that Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Senegal and Tunisia have been granted access to the mRNA technology that will be used to manufacture the jabs and boost the vaccine intake. WHO boss revealed this during the AU-EU Summit that is ongoing in Brussels, Belgium.
“Today, I’m delighted to announce the first six African countries that will receive technology from the hub to produce their own mRNA vaccines: Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia,” Dr Tedros said, in a virtual briefing that attended by the French and South African heads of states and the European Council.
The six countries are expected to produce Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. The development comes after WHO hatched the plan to speed up jab intake in Africa, at a time that most countries have been battling for intellectual rights for mass production. However, pharmaceutical companies remain averse to the idea.
