mRNA Vaccines in Africa: Opportunities for Local Production and Workforce Development

​Africa carries a high burden of infectious diseases, yet produces only a small share of the vaccines it uses.

​mRNA vaccines have changed how the world responds to outbreaks, they are faster to develop, easier to adapt, and critical in the face of emerging diseases.

​So what would it take to produce them locally?

​It goes beyond the technology. It requires skilled researchers, bioprocess engineers, regulators, and quality systems that can support production end-to-end.

​There have been steps forward — technology transfer hubs, new manufacturing sites, and growing policy conversations. But key gaps remain: workforce readiness, infrastructure scale, regulatory alignment, and sustained investment.

​So what now?

​Building systems that actually work.

​At the Centre for Vaccine Research and Biotechnology (CVRB), this is seen as an opportunity to develop people, strengthen institutions, and connect research to production in a way that lasts.