First COVID-19 mRNA vaccine produced in Africa is in the works

Africa’s first mRNA COVID-19 vaccine will be produced in nine to 12 months through the South African biotech company, Afrigen Biologics and Vaccines, reports Reuters. The World Health Organization (WHO), and its COVAX partners, are working with Afrigen to build a transfer hub in South Africa to give equitable access of the vaccine to low- and middle-income countries.

“Afrigen’s facility will be capable of producing a maximum 10,000 vials a day of COVID-19 vaccines, and it has partnered with local manufacturer Biovac, which can produce 30- to 50-million doses a year to distribute across Africa,” Reuters noted, Petro Terblanche, Afrigen’s managing director, as saying.

And, other countries are already interested in providing technology for mRNA vaccines and/or to host a technology hub, reports WHO.

At Children Believe, we continue to assist our partners and local government in vaccine rollouts as well as providing food rations, PPE and hygiene kits and counselling support.

Learn how you can provide help today.

About Children Believe

Children Believe works globally to empower children to dream fearlessly, stand up for what they believe in — and be heard. For 60+ years, we’ve brought together brave young dreamers, caring supporters and partners, and unabashed idealists. Together, we’re driven by a common belief: creating access to education — inside and outside of classrooms — is the most powerful tool children can use to change their world.

About Childfund Alliance

A member of ChildFund Alliance, Children Believe is part of a global network of child-focused development organizations working to create opportunities for children and youth, their families and communities. ChildFund helps nearly 23-million children and their families in 70 countries overcome poverty and underlying conditions that prevent children from achieving their full potential. We work to end violence against children; provide expertise in emergencies and disasters to ease the harmful impact on children and their communities; and engage children and youth to create lasting change and elevate their voices in decisions that affect their lives.