Macron with Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat during the Global Forum for Vaccine Sovereignty and Innovation in Paris, France, June 20, 2024. / Photo: Reuters
Three quarters of the funding will come from Europe, Macron told the summit, which was also attended by leaders from Botswana, Rwanda, Senegal, Ghana, as well as visiting ministers, health groups and pharmaceutical firms. The scheme"could become a catalyst for promoting the pharmaceutical industry in Africa and fostering collaboration between member states", African Union commission chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat told the summit.The Covid-19 pandemic shone a light on the unequal global distribution of vaccines, as wealthy countries home to big pharma firms snapped up most doses, leaving Africa far behind.
A recent resurgence of cholera in many parts of Africa has highlighted the need for more local vaccine producers. Only one firm in the world –– South Korea's EuBiologics –– makes the cheap and effective vaccine doses for the deadly disease. The Gavi vaccine alliance, which helps distribute jabs for more than 20 different diseases to poorer countries, was one of the organisers of Thursday's Global Forum for Vaccine Sovereignty and Innovation.
Gavi chair Jose Manuel Barroso said that"one million children vaccinated since 2000 is an incredible achievement".