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[File Image]: The Biovac Institute is striving to scale up to become a major vaccine manufacturing output facility in response to COVID-19 and possible future pandemics.
South African vaccine manufacture, Biovac, is set to employ over 700 high-end skilled individuals.
It has secured a financing package of one-eight-billion rand from the International Finance Corporation, the European Commission, and European Investment Bank.
It will build Africa’s first end-to-end multi-vaccine manufacturing site in Cape Town.
The aim is to advance self-reliance in vaccine production for Africa after huge gaps were identified during the COVID-19 pandemic.
BIOVAC CEO, Doctor Morena Makhoana says, “The new capacity when it comes online will be able to manufacture over 500 million doses. it’s quadrupling our current capability. This is what this funding package will allow. We are therefore going to build on a new site, which is adjacent to where we are. Construction has started, and we’re aiming to complete that around 2029. The new site will allow us to double our capacity to over 700 people. We need those high-level skills. We need the scientists, the engineers, the pharmacists to really remain in the country.”
BIOVAC on track to creating largest vaccine manufacturing facility in Africa
