Six cellular vaccine manufacturing models by German pharma firm BioNTech arrived in Rwanda on Monday, the primary such shipments to Africa because the continent seeks to spice up mRNA vaccine manufacturing.
The models, produced from recycled delivery containers, arrived within the capital Kigali, the place they are going to be assembled to make a vaccine manufacturing hub for jabs in opposition to a wide range of diseases.
“This is a historic moment,” stated BioNTech’s chief working officer Sierk Poetting.
The Covid-19 pandemic uncovered Africa’s large dependence on imported vaccines.
Less than 50 % of the continent’s 1.2 billion individuals are absolutely inoculated in opposition to Covid-19, in keeping with the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The facility in Kigali — able to producing as much as 100 million mRNA vaccines per yr — will take at the very least 12 months earlier than it begins producing doses.
“The technology is scalable… It is also flexible so you can move it anywhere,” stated Poetting, with out offering particulars on the general value of the venture.
The containers, dubbed BioNTainer, may also pioneer therapies within the improvement part in opposition to illnesses like malaria, tuberculosis and HIV which might be among the many main killers in Africa.
“We are also thinking of cancer therapies that we are developing to be produced in these BioNTainers,” stated Poetting.
BioNTech stated it had employed 9 native scientists, with a plan to extend staffing to at the very least 100 by subsequent yr and ultimately have native workers run the ability.
Rwanda will distribute the vaccines to the 55-member African Union bloc.
“This shows the power of science, partnerships and humanity, what people can do to fight a terrifying pandemic,” Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana stated.
Rwanda’s facility is the primary of three slated for Africa with deliveries deliberate for South Africa and Senegal, in keeping with BioNTech.
Source: www.anews.com.tr
