Never Again PVA: Visit the South African mRNA Hub
Source: People’s Vaccine Alliance
23 Sept 2022
- 8:03
Enter an immersive tour of the World Health Organization-backed Afrigen mRNA hub in South Africa and two of its 15 “spokes” (Biovac, also in South Africa, and the Institute Pasteur in Senegal).
The project debunks the myth that low and middle income countries are incapable of producing high-quality mRNA vaccines.
To help address the inequities in global access to medical technologies that AIDS and COVID-19 laid bare, the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners launched an mRNA technology transfer program in July 2021.
Hosted by Afrigen Biologics Ltd. in Cape Town, South Africa, the global program is working to improve health and security by building sustainable, locally owned mRNA manufacturing capabilities in and for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It employs a “hub and spoke” model: the Afrigen “hub” provides technology development, training, and technology transfer to 15-20 “spokes” in LMICs around the world, enabling them to research, develop, make and sell commercial products.
