The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the 77th World Health Assembly to enhance the partnership aimed at enhancing the prevention, preparedness, and response to epidemics and pandemics in Africa.
The two organizations will join forces to advance the vaccine innovation, development, and production capacity in the region and Africa to respond effectively and equitably to current and future epidemics.
“The New Public Health Order calls for action to build resilient health systems capable of managing recurrent, high-impact infectious disease and outbreaks; an action-oriented partnership such as this is at the core,” Dr. Jean Kaseya, Africa CDC’s Director General, stated.
He continued, promising that his collaboration with CEPI in research, clinical trials, and local manufacturing of medical countermeasures will elevate Africa’s readiness against outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics. This, he assured, will consolidate the continent’s preparedness far beyond its state before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Richard Hatchett, CEPI’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “African leadership and capabilities will be key for ensuring the continent can respond to increasingly frequent infectious disease outbreaks.”
“The preparatory work to manage these outbreaks—from greater vaccine manufacturing capacity to clinical trial readiness—must be undertaken now. CEPI stands ready to support Africa CDC in the realization of these goals and to further strengthen Africa’s preparedness and resilience against future outbreaks.” He added.
60% of the continent’s vaccine demands would be produced by 2040 in alignment with the African Union’s (A. U) plan on Africa, which is under Africa’s CDC’s Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM). The ambition would be targeted at enhancing research and development, forging a workforce as well as a means of supply to stut health systems. It would in turn lead to an increase in vaccine independence, helping to assure equity in vaccine supply against what was witnessed during the COVID-19 period in Africa.
Africa CDC and CEPI are collaborating to invest in vaccine R&D and manufacturing innovations, build a strong regional supply chain, and fund innovations to speed the production of vaccines and aid accessibility.
The partnership also aims to strengthen Africa’s research ecosystem and clinical trial infrastructure, enhance vaccine safety protocols, biosecurity, and pathogen surveillance, and build capacity for conducting high-quality Phase 3 efficacy trials.
Furthermore, this cooperation will support sustainable manufacturing for routine vaccinations and prompt response to outbreaks, ensuring Africa’s long-term health security and readiness for emergency vaccine responses.
