[PHOTOS] Health CS meets International Vaccines Institute director general Jerome

Health CS Susan Wafula on Monday held a meeting with the International Vaccines Institute Director General Jerome Kim.

The meeting which was also attended by Kenya Biovax Institute CEO Michael Lusiola and health DG Patrick Amoth sought to discuss areas of collaboration between the government and the institute.

The meeting which was held at Afya House comes a few months after Kenya formally presented her letter of intent to join the International Vaccine Institute as a state party.

During the meeting, they discussed ways that both the International Vaccines Institute and Kenya's Biovax Institute will work together in ensuring Biovax's mandate is achieved.

Key areas of focus included research, partnerships in product development, capacity building of the local workforce through trainings and technology transfers.

The Kenya Biovax Institute, a state cooperation mandated with the manufacturing of specialised health products including vaccines and therapeutics is set to kick-start the manufacturing process in earnest.

The decision to fast-track the development of a human vaccine facility in the country was prompted by the recent shortage of covid-19 vaccines that slowed ongoing mass vaccination drives especially across African countries.