In a 2017 report by the World Health Organisation and the World Bank, it was reported that approximately 2 billion people lack access to essential medicines and vaccines, with 80 percent living in low- and middle-income countries.
Study findings reveal that despite Africa receiving 25 percent of global vaccine production, 99 percent of vaccines are imported rather than locally produced.
In 2023, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) reported that only 14 African countries had achieved >70 percent vaccination, with coverage disparities stemming from insufficient vaccine supplies, inequitable distribution, weak health systems, and limited vaccine production on the continent.
The Covid-19 pandemic also highlighted inequalities in vaccine production and distribution, emphasizing the need for local production to close the gap.
Consequently, the African Union has set a goal of ensuring that local vaccine production accounts for 60 percent of vaccines administered by 2040, as a necessity to enable health security and self-sufficiency. In response, the Kenya Biovax Institute was established in 2021 to manufacture vaccines and biotherapeutics and to establish itself as a hub for vaccine innovation in Africa.
Whereas Kenya Biovax Institute has not embarked on production yet, appropriate structure and systems are being put in place with expected commencement in 2027.
With the goal of improving local vaccine manufacturing capacity, Kenya will reduce vaccine shortages, improve accessibility, and strengthen healthcare resilience.
Kenya still relies on imports to meet its vaccine requirements because it is hindered by inadequate manufacturing capacity, limited access to technology and intellectual property, and infrastructural gaps, among others to local production. The world is adopting new and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning for immunological research, enabling unprecedented capabilities in simulating the immune system, mapping epitopes, and designing immunotherapies.
Using these models, vaccine production systems can screen thousands of potential lead candidates, helping narrow the field to the most promising candidates for testing in the lab. Every failed experiment avoided translates into significant savings.
Recent progress in mRNA immune regulation, stabilisation, purification, and transport has positioned mRNA vaccine adoption at the forefront of combating the Covid-19 pandemic. Kenya’s utilisation of this technique could spur innovation and build on self-reliance.
However, the integration of AI should always complement, not replace, rigorous ‘wet’ laboratory experimentation and animal and human trials, which remain indispensable for ensuring vaccine safety and efficacy and are essential for regulatory approval.
A skilled workforce is just as critical. The Africa CDC states there is a critical gap in skilled personnel needed for vaccine manufacturing.
Despite the paucity of degree programs in vaccine manufacturing, closing this skills gap will require specialised training and on-the-job development for graduates, as well as experienced hires from adjacent industries and the diaspora to provide the hands-on training necessary to succeed in vaccine manufacturing and research.
The creation of vaccine innovation hubs in collaboration with universities and research institutions will support early-stage development and facilitate technological progress. These partnerships will further enable local innovations, which are key to self-reliance.
Kenya cannot afford to remain a consumer of other nations’ medicines and vaccines. Efforts to ensure pandemic preparedness, curb the rising disease burden, and ensure vaccine availability are urgent priorities for the Kenyan healthcare system.
Decisive actions to allocate adequate investment in research and local manufacturing will increase sustainability, equity, and citizens’ access to critical vaccines. The time to act is now.