Six African countries to establish mRNA vaccine production: WHO

The global mRNA technology transfer hub was established in 2021 to support manufacturers in low- and middle-income countries to produce their own vaccines, ensuring that they have all the necessary operating procedures, read WHO statement.

Geneva: World Health Organization Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on Thursday announced that Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia will be establishing mRNA vaccine production.

The announcement was made at a ceremony hosted by the European Council, France, South Africa and WHO in the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, said WHO statement.

"No other event like the Covid-19 pandemic has shown that reliance on a few companies to supply global public goods is limiting, and dangerous. In the mid-to-long term, the best way to address health emergencies and reach universal health coverage is to significantly increase the capacity of all regions to manufacture the health products they need, with equitable access as their primary endpoint," said the WHO chief.