#HealthNews: EU to invest €1 billion to facilitate construction of vaccine factories in Africa
The European Union has said it is investing 1 billion to facilitate construction of vaccine factories in Africa. This was revealed by the Commission President Ursula von der Leyen who added that this will help the continent, where vaccination against COVID-19 has barely begun in many countries, to catch up.
She made the pledges in Rome at a health summit of the G20, the world’s major economies. The fight against the corona virus is central.
“Preventing future health emergencies means strengthening capacities throughout the world. Today, Africa imports 99% of its vaccines. This has to change. Therefore, Team Europe is launching an initiative with African partners to develop vaccine production in Africa. The initiative will develop a number of regional hubs distributed across the continent and it will draw on the full toolbox of Team Europe, including EUR 1 billion of investment,” she said.
The whole world is hunting for the currently scarce corona vaccines. Rich countries have the longest straw. Africa must therefore start producing vaccines itself, according to the European Commission. The EU also wants to donate at least 100 million doses to poorer countries by the end of this year, says von der Leyen.
Developing countries are pushing for the patent right on corona vaccines to be lifted, so that other parties could also make the vaccines. But most G20 leaders would rather have patent holders make agreements with other parties about sharing their rights, knowledge and technology.
Three major vaccine manufacturers have pledged in Rome to supply middle and low-income countries this year and next year with about 3.5 billion doses. They do this at cost price or at a discount, say Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson (the parent company of Janssen in Leiden). Pfizer pledged 2 billion doses, Moderna to 95 million and Johnson & Johnson to 500 million.
“Today, we will focus on three goals. First, bringing this pandemic under control, everywhere. Second, making sure that vaccines reach everybody everywhere, not only through sharing and export, but also by spreading manufacturing capacities to more regions. And in this context, Team Europe aims at donating at least 100 million doses to low- and middle-income countries by the end of 2021. And third, preventing and preparing for future health crises,” President Ursula added.
