In June 2024, the European Commission (EC) announced that the European Union and its Member States will contribute over €750 million (more than $800 million) to the African Vaccines Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA), which launched in Paris on 20th June 2024. This includes close to €220 million ($233 million) from the EU budget. The AVMA is an “innovative instrument” developed by Gavi and Africa CDC and seeks to “enhance the predictability of demand for vaccines made in Africa”. It will also encourage the “sustainable growth” of Africa’s manufacturing base and contribute to the African Union’s goal of producing more vaccines for Africans on the continent.
The importance of the AVMA
The African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator is expected to purchase over 800 million doses produced in Africa over the next decade. It has the potential to improve African pandemic and outbreak preparedness and response and strengthen global health security. It will provide more than €1 billion ($1.1 billion) to manufacturers to offset high start-up costs and provide assurance of demand to diversify global vaccine suppliers. There is a target of facilitating the entry to market of at least 4 African vaccine manufacturers in a sustainable way.
“Supporting vaccine production while promoting equitable access to essential health products, technologies, and primary healthcare services is an opportunity to target several development objectives and geopolitical priorities shared by the EU and the African Union. These include job creation, diversification of global value chains, and innovation.”
EU investment
Within the EU Global Gateway strategy, the EU, Member States, and European financial institutions have been investing in Africa’s vaccine manufacturing capacity through a “360-degree approach”. Team Europe’s Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines, and Health Technologies in Africa (MAV+) initiative is an effort to “create an enabling environment for the industry, support training a skilled workforce in the sector, strengthen the regulatory environment, and support African research and technology transfer”.
Jutta Urpilainen, Commissioner for International Partnerships, described the AVMA as the “next step forward in achieving the African ambition of producing 60% of vaccines locally”.
“With this significant Team Europe investment of over $800 million, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting Africa’s health autonomy and global preparedness against future health threats.”
We look forward to considering African vaccine development and manufacturing again at the Congress in Barcelona this October. Get your tickets to join us there, and don’t forget to subscribe to our weekly newsletters.
