NAIROBI, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Kenya and the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Tuesday to strengthen vaccine research and production capabilities.
Deborah Barasa, cabinet secretary in the Ministry of Health, said the signing marks a significant milestone in Kenya's commitment to advancing public health and achieving universal health coverage.
"This MoU symbolizes our shared commitment to building a robust vaccine ecosystem that ensures equitable access for all while enhancing health security in Kenya and beyond," Barasa said in a statement issued in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.
She also announced that Kenya has been selected to host the IVI Country Office and the Advancing Vaccine End-to-End Capabilities (AVEC) Project Office, highlighting the country's growing role in health innovation and vaccine production on the continent.
"Through our collaboration with the IVI and the establishment of the AVEC Africa Project Office in Kenya, we are taking a bold step toward strengthening our local vaccine manufacturing capacity, improving health outcomes, and safeguarding our nation against future health crises," Barasa said.
The AVEC Africa project focuses on accelerating vaccine research and development and manufacturing across the continent by linking and enhancing existing African institutions and expertise across the vaccine value chain.
Barasa said the partnership seeks to bolster the country's efforts toward self-sufficiency in vaccine production while addressing broader public health challenges across Africa.
She said that by 2025, Kenya aims to not only meet local demand but also enhance vaccine accessibility across the continent. She emphasized the importance of this collaboration in reaching the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's goal of manufacturing 60 percent of the continent's vaccinations domestically by 2040.
IVI Director General Jerome Kim commended Kenya's proactive approach, saying that the partnership represents a bold step forward in advancing global health security through innovative and sustainable vaccine solutions.
"We aim to expand and strengthen AVEC activities across Africa, including more countries, to enhance vaccine research, production, and health security," Kim said. ■
