Moving Forward the Vaccine Supply Chain in Africa

By Matthew Downham, Director of Manufacturing and Supply Chain, CEPI & Abebe Genetu Bayih, Ag. Lead Local Manufacturing of Health Commodities, Africa CD

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant inequities in global vaccine access, particularly affecting Africa, where local manufacturing capabilities were insufficient to meet demand. By July 2022, for every three doses of COVID-19 vaccines delivered worldwide, only one reached Africa. This disparity underscored the continent’s dependence on external suppliers and donors.

To prevent such inequalities in the future, the African Union has set a bold target: by 2040, over 60% of the vaccines required for Africa’s population should be produced locally. Currently, this figure stands at just 1%. Achieving this goal necessitates not only increased manufacturing capacity but also a robust and sustainable supply chain for the specialized materials essential to vaccine production. CEPI is actively collaborating with Africa CDC and regional partners to establish a resilient supply chain capable of supporting both routine immunization programs and rapid responses to emerging health threats.

Understanding Africa’s Vaccine Supply Chain Challenges

Vaccine manufacturing is highly complex, requiring up to 500 unique input materials for a single vaccine. These materials include sterile plastic bags, connectors, filters, single-use consumables, and critical raw materials. The logistical challenges of sourcing, transporting, and delivering these components across Africa are formidable.

In February 2024, Africa CDC and CEPI co-hosted the first African Vaccine Manufacturing Supply Chain Forum in Nairobi, Kenya. This three-day forum brought together experts to assess the region’s input material supply chain challenges and identify strategies to strengthen Africa’s vaccine manufacturing ecosystem.

Establishing a Robust Vaccine Supply Chain

Recent CEPI-funded research conducted by The MindCo explored solutions to address Africa’s vaccine supply chain constraints. Interviews with African vaccine manufacturers and input material suppliers highlighted several key challenges:

• Uncertain Demand: Suppliers recognize Africa as an emerging vaccine market but face unpredictable demand, leading to procurement delays.
• High Import Costs & Logistics Complexities: The high cost of importing materials, combined with bureaucratic customs clearance processes, results in long lead times and increased costs.
• Fragmented Procurement Systems: A lack of standardized procurement processes creates inefficiencies, further slowing vaccine production.

To overcome these barriers, several strategic solutions have been proposed:

1. Strengthening Supplier-Manufacturer Collaboration: Improved coordination between input material suppliers and vaccine manufacturers is essential. Upskilling workforce capabilities in demand forecasting and logistics planning can help optimize procurement, reducing costs and delivery delays. Early engagement with suppliers, customs officials, and freight providers can also streamline procurement processes.
2. Localizing Critical Materials: Standardizing input material demand—such as using uniform vial types across vaccines—can enable manufacturers to consolidate orders, reducing costs and improving logistics efficiency. This approach can also serve as a stepping stone toward localizing the production of critical materials within Africa, mitigating supply chain disruptions and decreasing dependency on imports.
3. Developing a Shared Procurement Platform: Implementing a centralized online system for procurement and collaboration among manufacturers can enhance supply chain efficiency and transparency.
4. Diversifying Production: Expanding beyond vaccines to include fill-and-finish products like insulin can help sustain local manufacturing businesses and reduce reliance on a narrow product portfolio.

Advancing Africa’s Vaccine Manufacturing Ambitions

As the threat of new and re-emerging viral outbreaks grows, ensuring a stable and locally supported vaccine supply chain is crucial for Africa’s health security. Africa CDC, with CEPI’s support, is committed to advancing the recommendations identified by vaccine manufacturers and suppliers. By implementing these strategic initiatives, Africa can move closer to achieving its goal of producing 60% of its vaccine needs locally by 2040, reducing dependency on external suppliers and bolstering the continent’s public health resilience.

SOURCE:https://africacdc.org/news-item/moving-forward-the-vaccine-supply-chain-in-africa/