Ramaphosa hails creation of vaccine hub in SA
PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has described as “historic” plans to create the first messenger RNA vaccine technology hub – which will be based in South Africa.
Ramaphosa yesterday joined World Health Organization (WHO) head Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and French President Emmanuel Macron to launch the hub.
mRNA is a technology, which has been in development for decades, used to develop vaccines. It was used in the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine development process. mRNA gives a body’s cells instructions on how to create a protein found on the surface of the Covid-19 virus. The creation of the S protein enables a person’s body to create the much-needed antibodies to fight the virus.
The mRNA technology is viewed as a quick measure of scaling up vaccine production and supply. The WHO had issued a proposal for the creation of tech hubs.
So far, over 100 proposals have been received from companies interested in receiving technologies and those interested in providing technologies.
Tedros said the WHO was in discussion with several companies on the hub to be created in South Africa.
“The consortium involves a company called Afrigen Biologics and Vaccines. (It) will act as a manufacturing hub for mRNA vaccines and also providing training to Biovac,” he said.
Biovac is a South African-based vaccine distribution and manufacturing company. The WHO said it hoped mRNA vaccines from the hub could start being manufactured in nine to 12 months. It’s unclear whether the hub would be using existing Covid-19 vaccine technology.
Tedros and Ramaphosa both said they hoped this development would help create vaccine access on the African continent.
South Africa and India have been at the forefront of seeking a waiver on intellectual property rights linked to Covid-19 vaccine development. Ramaphosa said he hoped that process would be accelerated. The effort for a Trips waiver is supported by the WHO.
Ramaphosa said he hoped this launch would help put a spotlight on his calls for an end to vaccine nationalism which has seen Western countries receive an over-abundance of vaccines.
“This will help enhance our capacity to take responsibility for the health of African people. We will be able to train young people while also enhancing our supply chain,” he said
“Northern countries have a huge surplus and we have been saying vaccine nationalism must come to an end.”
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases confirmed 9 160 new Covid-19 cases representing a 24.9 percent positivity rate with 93 deaths yesterday.