Page 26 - Bophelo - Edition Two | March 2025
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The recent Mpox outbreak has ignited discussions     Furthermore, the establishment of an mRNA vaccine
            Empowering Africa:                                                                                                           effectively to health crises. As the continent grapples   toward  self-sufficiency.  This  consortium,  which  includes
                                                                                                                                                                                              hub  at  Afrigen  in  Cape  Town  marks  a  significant  step
                                                                                                                                         around Africa’s capacity to produce vaccines and respond
                                                                                                                                                                                              SAMRC and Biovac, is focused on sharing technology and
                                                                                                                                         with persistent health challenges such as Tuberculosis,
                                                                                                                                                                                              expertise with local manufacturers, ensuring that Africa is
                                                                                                                                         Malaria, and HIV/AIDS, the spotlight is now on the urgent
                                                                                                                                         need for local vaccine production facilities and a robust
                                                                                                                                                                                              initiatives demonstrate a growing recognition that Africa
                                                                                                                                         scientific community to safeguard public health.     better equipped to respond to future health crises. Such
            The Imperative for Local Vaccine                                                                                             An Impact on Health                                  must take charge of its health security by investing in
                                                                                                                                                                                              homegrown vaccine production.

            Production in Response to the                                                                                                Historically, Africa has struggled with delayed access   The fragmented state of immunology education in Africa
                                                                                                                                         to new medicines and technologies, often reliant on   poses another challenge. Many medical schools lack
            Mpox Outbreak                                                                                                                external sources for vaccines and treatments. The    the necessary facilities and funding to produce qualified
                                                                                                                                         COVID-19 pandemic starkly illustrated this vulnerability,   professionals in the field. This has led to a reliance on
                                                                                                                                         with  many  African  nations  facing  significant  challenges   international education and training programs, which
                                                                                                                                         in  securing life-saving  vaccines.  The Mpox outbreak   may not adequately prepare graduates for the unique
                                                                                                                                         has underscored the necessity for African countries to   health challenges faced in Africa. Philanthropic efforts,
                                                                                                                                         build  their infrastructure  for vaccine  development and   such as those from the Chan Soon-Shiong Family
                                                                                                                                         production.                                          Foundation, have sought to bridge these gaps by
                                                                                                                                                                                              offering scholarships and support to aspiring researchers
                                                                                                                                                                                              in biomedical sciences.
                                                                                                                                         The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention
                                                                                                                                         (Africa CDC) has emphasised the need for approximately   Despite these initiatives, the road ahead remains complex.
                                                                                                                                         10 million doses of Mpox vaccines to effectively manage   The  need  for  sustained  investment  in  local  scientific
                                                                                                                                         the outbreak. However, as of now, only around 280,000   training and research institutions is critical for ensuring
                                                                                                                                         doses are available, less than 3% of the required amount.   that Africa can respond effectively to health emergencies.
                                                                                                                                         This inequity in vaccine distribution is not an isolated   Governments, funding agencies, and international
                                                                                                                                         incident;  it  reflects  a  broader  trend  of  affluent  nations   organisations need to collaborate in fostering an
                                                                                                                                         hoarding vaccines,  leaving many  African countries  in   environment conducive to research and development.
                                                                                                                                         precarious positions.
                                                                                                                                                                                              As the diseases continue to evolve, they serve as a
                                                                                                                                         In response to these challenges, innovative collaborations   clarion call for Africa to prioritise local vaccine production
                                                                                                                                         have emerged  within South Africa,  highlighting the   and invest in its scientific capacity. By empowering the
                                                                                                                                         potential for local vaccine production. Institutions such as   continent to produce its vaccines, Africa can not only
                                                                                                                                         the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and   enhance its ability to respond to current health crises but
                                                                                                                                         the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)   also build resilience against future pandemics.
                                                                                                                                         are at the forefront of developing strategic partnerships
                                                                                                                                         to enhance health research and innovation. One notable   The conversation surrounding vaccine production in
                                                                                                                                         example is the partnership between SAMRC and PATH,   Africa is not merely an issue of health; it is a question
                                                                                                                                         which resulted in the establishment of the Global Health   of equity, self-determination, and the right to health for
                                                                                                                                         Innovation Accelerator (GHIA). This initiative aims to   all. The time has come for Africa to invest in its health
                                                                                                                                         tackle  the  deficiencies  in  the  health  innovation  system   infrastructure and take charge of its health destiny,
                                                                                                                                         in South Africa and strengthen the capacity for local   ensuring that no community is left vulnerable to outbreaks
                                                                                                                                         vaccine production.                                  and diseases.










            24    THE SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCILTHE SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL                                                                                                           THE COMMUNITY ISSUE         25
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