Africa's reliance on imported vaccines and medicines was starkly exposed during COVID-19, with most countries dependent on foreign supplies. Political priorities shifted toward domestic production and vaccine self-sufficiency. Several countries now host manufacturing initiatives: South African firms Biovac and Afrigen are expanding vaccine capacity; Senegal's Pasteur Institute produces yellow fever vaccines; production facilities are emerging in Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, and Côte d'Ivoire. Outbreak responses still rely on imports, as shown by Mpox vaccine shipments from Denmark. Ongoing challenges include financing, technology transfer, skilled workforce shortages, regulatory strengthening, and supply-chain development, but measurable progress in local pharmaceutical capacity exists.
"COVID was a turning point we are on our way,"
"Before the pandemic, there was insufficient awareness of how vulnerable the continent was, as it was 99 percent dependent on vaccine imports, and over 90 percent dependent on drug imports,"
"African leaders emerged from this crisis with a renewed political commitment to expand local production of drugs and vaccines."
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