Staff Reports
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has committed $40 million to advance mRNA vaccine technology in Africa, aiming to assist local manufacturers in providing vaccines across the continent. This investment is seen as a significant step towards improving healthcare equity in Africa. Bill Gates is optimistic about mRNA technology's potential to address local and global health challenges on the continent, expecting it to empower African vaccine development and production capacity.
The Institut Pasteur and South Africa's Biovac will utilize a Belgian mRNA research and manufacturing platform. Each of these African vaccine manufacturers will receive a $5 million grant from the Gates Foundation, with an additional $5 million allocated to undisclosed companies. The remaining $20 million will be used to advance the technology and reduce production costs.
While mRNA technology gained prominence through COVID-19 vaccines, those developed in Africa are expected to take three to seven years to develop.
Dr. Amadou Sall of Institut Pasteur believes this investment will help Africa achieve vaccine self-reliance and create vaccines for endemic diseases. Jose Castillo, CEO of Quantum Biosciences, emphasizes mRNA technology's potential for research and development independence in low- and middle-income countries.
With over $70 billion in endowment and $8.3 billion to allocate in 2023, the Gates Foundation's investment demonstrates its commitment to global health equity and Africa's self-reliance. However, some conservatives argue that global health decisions should be made by governments and elected officials rather than private organizations like the Gates Foundation.
