Kenya to begin trials for first locally manufactured vaccines

The government will, in the next two years, roll out trials of the first locally manufactured vaccines, aimed at ensuring that over three million children have access to affordable, critical vaccines.

Through the support of World Bank funding amounting to Ksh. 8 billion, the State-backed Kenya BioVax Institute has said that by 2027, three vaccines against pneumonia and typhoid will be released for trials.

According to the institute's CEO, Dr. Charles Githinji, the move is expected to make the country self-reliant in vaccine access and address global procurement hitches. 

“Vaccine manufacturing is not like any other form of manufacturing. It is not easy. It requires a lot of serious planning, serious technology, serious transfers… And I’m happy to report that ground work has been done pretty a lot and much and we are at that critical stage where we are saying and with a lot of certainty that in the next 24 months that we will be able to roll out our first BioVax vaccine,” he said.

Dr. Githinji said the country currently relies heavily on donor-supported programs for locally used vaccines, with over 80 per cent of the Ksh. 15 billion used annually being funded by donors.

Speaking during a stakeholder meeting in Naivasha, Dr. Githinji said the plans align with Kenya’s middle-income country status, which will see a reduction in financial support from GAVI.

He said the institute is in the process of assembling manufacturing components at its Embakasi-based facility in line with global best practices, ahead of the commercial production of vaccines.

Dr. Githinji noted that the Kenya BioVax Institute is on course to manufacture locally made vaccines by 2027, thanks to the World Bank’s Ksh. 8 billion support, and will place Kenya on the world map in health security.

He added that the institute, born out of challenges in accessing vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic, seeks to ensure the health security and efficacy of all vaccines produced.

Dr. Githinji said the firm will, in the future, be listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange to spearhead its financing goals in a boost to the economy, as it eyes the African vaccines market.

On his part, Vision 2030 Board Chair Emmanuel Nzai said local production of critical vaccines will be a huge boost to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Nzai said the move will help address the cost of vaccines while making healthcare more affordable to millions of Kenyans, especially the vulnerable population.

He said Kenya stands to gain more by becoming a key hub and market for local vaccines while enhancing health security on the continent.

Nzai noted that Kenya faced mounting challenges in accessing vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the institute will reverse this trend even as the country battles the spread of MPOX.

According to the institute's 2023-2027 strategic plan, the organisation will produce and commercialise vaccines for outbreaks, children’s immunisation, and therapeutics.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention notes that the African vaccines market is estimated to reach between USD 2.4 billion and USD 5.6 billion by the year 2030.

The organisation adds that African countries rely heavily on imported vaccines, with up to 98 per cent of the required doses being imported.