THE WHO is setting up a hub in South Africa to give companies from poor and middle-income countries the know-how and licenses to produce COVID-19 vaccines, in what President Cyril Ramaphosa called an historic step to spread lifesaving technology.
The “tech transfer hub” could make it possible for African companies to begin manufacturing mRNA vaccines – the advanced technology now used in shots from Pfizer and Moderna – in as little as 9-12 months, the World Health Organization said.
It announced two companies had signed up so far, and said it was in talks with Pfizer and Moderna about participating.
“Through this initiative we will change the narrative of an Africa that is a centre of disease and poor development,” said Ramaphosa, speaking by video link at the WHO press conference where the programme was launched.
“South Africa welcomes the opportunity to host a vaccine technology transfer hub and to
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