African Vaccine Manufacturing Initiative (AVMI)

You are invited to a webinar convened by the African Vaccine Manufacturing Initiative (AVMI) and IAVI to discuss Optimising Vaccine Strategy with Socio - Behavioural Insights. This session aims to explore how understanding social and behavioural factors can enhance vaccine acceptance and distribution across Africa. Aligning with AVMI's mission, we'll delve into key challenges affecting vaccine uptake, such as cultural beliefs, trust issues, and access barriers. Through interactive discussions, case studies, and collaborative problem-solving exercises, participants will gain practical strategies for improving vaccine acceptance and implementing effective awareness campaigns. By the end of the webinar, it is anticipated that attendees will have actionable insights to optimise vaccine strategies in their regions, furthering AVMI's vision of making Africa a key player in global vaccine development and manufacture. The webinar will be led by IAVI's Director of Socio-Behavioural Research Yvonne Wangũi Machira and moderatored by William Ampofo, AVMI Executive Director. 📅 9 July 2024 🕑 14:00 – 15:00 SAST 📌 Register via the Zoom Link: https://lnkd.in/d8DaQDD2 #vaccineacceptance #vaccinestrategies #vaccinesforafrica

#WVCEU #VaccineDevelopment #VaccineInnovation #HealthcareInnovation #Vaccines

20 June 2024 - As Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance launched the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (#AVMA), the voice of the African vaccine manufacturing industry, African Vaccine Manufacturing Initiative (AVMI), was represented by Farrah Losper, Board Chair, William Ampofo, Executive Director and Stavros Nicolaou, Board Member. The African Vaccine Industry welcomes the #AVMA as a medium-term tool to reduce the cost of manufacture in Africa. It is an exciting moment for African industry. It is however important to recognise that this as a catalyst for ecosystem change. The African industry needs regulatory reform to accelerate Africa’s ability to access the market. More importantly what is needed is support from African member states to commit to buy locally manufactured vaccines. The #AVMA is fantastic, and it is only the beginning. There is still a lot of work to do and we look forward to continued support from the Africa CDC, African Union and the member states. It is important to acknowledge Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and partners for creating this moment of inflection. #AVMI #VoiceofIndustry #AVMA #ForOurFuture #VaccineManufacturing #VaccinesWork #Africa #LocalManufacturing #GlobalHealth

Representation Matters 26 May 2024 - AVMI, the voice of African vaccine manufacturing, had the honor of addressing key stakeholders shaping the continent's health agenda at the high-level event 'Ministerial Consultations on Local Manufacturing,' held on the sidelines of the 77th WHA in Geneva. Farrah Losper, AVMI Board Chair, conveyed gratitude on behalf of the industry to the African Union, Africa CDC, GAVI, partners/donors, and notably the 55 ministries of health represented. She emphasized the collective efforts in prioritizing the African health agenda amidst global and continental challenges. Her message was a compelling call to action, stressing the urgency of seizing current opportunities and momentum to ensure Africa is never again left vulnerable when borders close. And she urged decision makers to utilize this pivotal moment to bolster continental health security, sovereignty, and economic prosperity. #WHA77 #NewPublicHealthOrder #LocalManufacturing #HealthSecurity

The AVMI Board elected, Farrah Losper as the Chair and Dr Simon Agwale as Vice Chair. Prof William Ampofo has been appointed as the Executive Director, effective as from 1st January 2024.

On the 7th of December 2023 in Accra, a historic milestone in Africa’s journey to vaccine sovereignty and health security was set when, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance approved the formation of the #AfricanVaccineManufacturingAccelerator (AVMA). The path to achieving this milestone involved extensive consultation and intense deliberation with key actors and stakeholders, notably, industry through the African Vaccine Manufacturing Initiative (AVMI) committed and consistent engagement. AVMA, a $1 billion unique financing instrument, is designed to subsidize medium-term vaccine production costs, thus rendering African companies more competitive with global and established operators. Two mechanisms of action, WHO prequalification milestones and successful UNICEF tender arrangements, will define the AVMA payments for African-produced vaccines. Voicing industry, AVMI welcomes AVMA as it will be a significant lever in attaining sustainable African vaccine manufacturing. Additionally, we emphasize that a successful AVMA will require multi-lateral bodies’ support to strengthen national and continental regulatory systems in facilitation of the WHO prequalification process with accessibility to the GAVI-UNICEF markets. Furthermore, preferential procurement mechanisms and unequivocal support from African Union member states is essential to unlocking continental demand and offtake mechanisms needed to better equip Africa for routine immunization and pandemic/outbreak responses. In the run-up to, and beyond, the official launch of the AVMA in June 2024, AVMI closely with GAVI and partners to operationalise this facility towards a viable vaccine market and an equitable health intervention for Africa and the world. #AVMI #VoiceofIndustry #AVMA #SustainableVaccineManufacturing

Congratulations to Prof William Ampofo, Dr Simon Agwale, Ms Farrah Losper, Dr Chidi Victor Nweneka, Dr Lisa Bonadonna, Pharm. Kofi Nsiah-Poku and Dr Stavros Nicolaou being elected to the Board of Directors at the 2023 AVMI Annual General Meeting that was held on Wednesday, 06 December.

Africa CDC Director General Dr JEAN KASEYA and African Vaccine Manufacturing Initiative (AVMI) Chair, Prof William Ampofo reflect on Africa's journey to sustainable vaccine manufacturing ahead of a critical GAVI board meeting this week.  Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance's AVMA proposal has the potential to be a major step in the right direction, and a powerful signal to other donors and investors that African vaccine manufacturing has a bright future. Lessons from the pandemic have highlighted the need to put vaccine equity at the heart of pandemic preparedness, prevention & response.    "Together with our partners, we aim to deliver global equity and African health security as well as greater economic, technical, and social participation for Africa by Africa" #africa #vaccines #healthsecurity

Our second outing at the IAVI-hosted Africa Health Research & Development Week featured AVMI Board Member, Tolu Disu who broke down the topic of domestic resource mobilization in vaccines development via an interactive Facebook Live session. While vaccine manufacturing capacity building in Drug Product and Drug Substance phases remain common and target entry points in the value chain, localisation of the process from raw materials to R&D to last-mile delivery would allow for long term participation, buy-in, ownership and sustainability. Other enabling factors namely market demand, financial resources and regulatory excellence are particularly important for African vaccine industry viability now and prospectively. All actors including the community have a role to play in building and accounting for capacity on the continent. Catch the full conversation here: https://lnkd.in/eMFkKbpR

The Africa Health Research & Development Week spearheaded by IAVI, in collaboration with partners, dedicated Nov 20th - 24th Nov 2023 to the discourse of science and innovation for translation into healthcare products and solutions. African Vaccine Manufacturing Initiative (AVMI) appreciated the opportunity to have participated in two sessions centred on contextualizing and mobilizing vaccine development on the continent. Kicking things off, Executive Director of AVMI, Patrick Tippoo, engaged in an exciting panel discussion with colleagues in the vaccine ecosystem.   The Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM) through the Framework for Action is spearheading efforts to achieving the vision for African vaccine advancement - 60% local production by 2040. AVMI supports all 8 programs of the PAVM with prospective leadership of the tech transfer and IP enablement unit and particular emphasis on the market design, R&D and talent building and infrastructure development agendas. Our industry perspective: as players look to scale up vaccine localisation, viable market, partnerships, end-to-end manufacture and product development would be important levers for capacity building on the continent. These would be supported by investments in routine vaccines, regulatory strengthening, and participation in a global supply chain beyond Africa.