Africa's public health agency and South African drugmaker Aspen Pharmacare are in advanced discussions on a long‑term framework to align vaccine demand and supply, aiming to strengthen sustainable vaccine manufacturing on the continent.
Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and Aspen said on Tuesday the talks, announced on the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit, are focused on building viable markets for vaccines produced in Africa as part of efforts to improve health security and reduce reliance on imports.
In a statement, the health agency said the proposed collaboration is meant to address an “imbalance” that has seen Africa importing an overwhelming majority of its vaccine needs,
“Ultimately, this is about securing reliable access and supply security for the continent through African-led production," Jean Kaseya, the director general of Africa CDC, was quoted as saying.
‘Decreasing dependency’
The chief executive of Aspen Pharmacare Stephe Saad said: “We are able to make a meaningful contribution towards decreasing the dependency on global imports by providing vaccine solutions for all Africans.”
Over 90% of vaccines, medicines, diagnostics and other essential health commodities used across the continent are imported, Africa CDC said in a report in April 2025.
Africa's dependence on international supplies for health care items had proved disastrous during outbreaks, including of COVID-19, Ebola, Marburg and mpox, the CDC report said.
