The demand for greater capacity to manufacture vaccines, diagnostics, therapeutics, and other medical countermeasures (MCMs) locally on the African continent is not new. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Africa, which comprises 17% of the entire global population, was importing 99% of its necessary vaccines and between 70% and 90% of its other pharmaceutical and medical consumables.
ACTION conducted a desk review and interviews with key informants deeply involved in efforts supporting or advancing Africa’s regional capacity for medical countermeasure manufacturing. This discussion paper outlines our insights into what considerations and priorities we think need to be made as this work moves forward.