VaccRelease

Context

Vaccines remain the most effective tool for preventing infectious diseases and for improving global health. As only 1% of the vaccines needed in Africa are currently produced in Africa, the continent needs a robust vaccine industry. The COVID-19 pandemic, in particular, has highlighted the need for supranational structures to ensure access to vital drugs, vaccines and health technologies. This requires a strong regulatory framework for vaccines, including the ability to test and release locally produced vaccines through an official national control laboratory (NCL). To this end, the project works with regulators and laboratory personnel involved in the official lot release of vaccines at the national regulatory authorities (NRAs) and NCLs of Ghana, Senegal, Rwanda and South Africa. The project strengthens their expertise and the capacity of the NRAs and NCLs to perform official NCL lot release, in particular, for vaccines produced locally. It also promotes cooperation with NRAs and NCLs based in sub-Saharan Africa and with the AUDA-NEPAD AMRH initiative, AMQF and other partner organisations to support the development of a pan-African NCL network for vaccine lot release and to foster the establishment of a reliance system. The strengthening of NCLs and NRAs will ensure the provision of quality-assured, safe and efficacious vaccines for the African population and contribute to the development of a sustainable vaccine manufacturing industry. These efforts will strengthen the quality infrastructure in Africa and build confidence in locally produced vaccines.

Objective

Strengthening the capacities of NRAs and NCLs for the official lot release of vaccines to improve access to quality-assured, safe and efficacious vaccines in African countries.

In Cooperation with

• Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Ghana
• Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Rwanda
• Agence sénégalaise de Réglementation pharmaceutique (ARP), Senegal
• South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), South Africa
• South African National Control Laboratory for Biological Products (SANCLBP), South Africa
• African Union Development Agency, New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) African Medicines Regulatory Harmonization (AMRH) initiative
• African Medicines Quality Forum (AMQF)
• National Metrology Institute (PTB), Germany
• GIZ (local representatives in Ghana, Senegal, Rwanda and South Africa)