Kenya has launched a fresh drive to turn scientific research into large-scale pharmaceutical and vaccine production, with the government seeking to reduce reliance on imported medical products while strengthening the country’s ability to respond to future disease outbreaks.
The initiative was launched during the inaugural meeting on advancing pharmaceutical and vaccine research into industrial-scale manufacturing that supports Kenya’s health priorities.
Medical Services Principal Secretary Ouma Oluga joined Principal Secretary for Science, Research and Innovation Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak at the meeting, which brought together policymakers, researchers, development partners and industry players.
The discussions focused on ways of strengthening Africa’s vaccine research, development and manufacturing ecosystem while increasing investment in locally developed vaccines and diagnostics.
Participants also explored measures to improve the continent’s preparedness for future public health emergencies through stronger local production.
The initiative aims to increase Kenya’s capacity to manufacture vaccines and diagnostic products locally as part of wider efforts to improve health security and speed up the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Speaking during the meeting held on Thursday at the State Department for Science, Research and Innovation offices at Railways, PS Oluga said the COVID-19 pandemic exposed Africa’s heavy dependence on imported vaccines and showed why countries on the continent must invest in sustainable local manufacturing.
“The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the need for African countries to establish sustainable end-to-end vaccine ecosystems covering research, product development, workforce training, regulation, procurement and large-scale manufacturing.”
He said Kenya has continued investing in pandemic preparedness, disease surveillance, innovation and vaccine manufacturing through institutions including the Kenya National Public Health Institute, Kenya BioVax Institute, Kenya Medical Research Institute and the Kenya Institute of Primate Research.
PS Oluga also pointed to Kenya’s participation in the World Health Organization and Medicines Patent Pool mRNA technology transfer programme, saying the initiative is helping strengthen locally owned manufacturing capacity in low- and middle-income countries.
He stressed that lasting progress would depend on stronger cooperation between governments, researchers, development partners and the private sector to build a vaccine manufacturing system capable of responding to future disease outbreaks.
“Stronger partnerships among governments, researchers, development partners and the private sector will be critical to achieving the African Union and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention target of producing 60 percent of Africa’s vaccines locally by 2040.”
The Principal Secretary also recognised the support provided by the African Union, the World Health Organization, the International Vaccine Institute, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD and the Kenya Medical Research Institute in strengthening workforce development, regulatory harmonisation, disease surveillance, product development and clinical research.
He said the partnerships would help build the scientific and technical capacity needed to expand local pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing, strengthen regulatory systems and improve access to essential health technologies.
PS Oluga reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a stronger and more resilient health system under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, saying continued investment in research, innovation and local manufacturing would speed up Kenya’s journey towards Universal Health Coverage while positioning the country as a regional hub for vaccine production and pandemic preparedness.