Africa Vaccines Research, Development, Manufacturing and Access Initiative
The CoDA Independent Task Team on the Production, Equitable and Universal Access to Vaccines and Vaccinations in Africa was launched on 21 June 2020 at Igbinedion University Okada, Nigeria, in partnership with Igbinedion University Teaching Hospital.
The task team was established to:
- Support African Union Member States to establish mechanisms for joint public and private sector collaboration towards the manufacturing of essential vaccines and to ensure equitable access and distribution of such vaccines.
- Strengthen ongoing activities to engage private and public tertiary institutions, and the private sector towards supporting essential vaccine manufacturing and related research, procurement and distribution in Africa.
- Advance the efforts of African alliances and networks (e.g. African Health Business, African Research Universities Alliance, Igbinedion University Teaching Hospital, etc.) towards the production of essential vaccines and facilitate equitable access to these vaccines in Africa.
This initiative recognizes other initiatives of the African Union institutions such as Africa CDC, Africa Medicine Agency, and AUDA-NEPAD. It was established within the framework of the African Union Agenda 2063, which seeks to promote pan-Africanism and African renaissance by harnessing the continental endowments embodied in African people, history, cultures, and natural resources to effect equitable and people-centered growth and development on the continent, with Africa taking full responsibility for financing its development.
The initiative partly supports implementation of the “Framework for Fair, Equitable and Timely Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccines in Africa”, an African Union instrument developed by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention to take appropriate measures to ensure timely and equitable access to vaccines to safeguard lives and livelihoods in Africa and slow the progression of pandemics and outbreaks.
It provides a platform for the involvement of the African private sector in the development, manufacturing, and distribution of vaccines in Africa and a connection between African policymakers and relevant stakeholders on the issue of vaccines and vaccination.
Partners
