The Kenya Medical Research Institute and Kenya Biovax Institute have partnered in the research and production of human vaccines.
This is after the two signed a Memorandum of Understanding to pave the way for the collaboration.
The signing of the MoU paves the way for opportunities in vaccine manufacturing, supply security, and capacity building in Kenya.
This is in line with the Institute’s mission to improve human health and quality of life through research, capacity building and service delivery.
“The MoU enables Kemri and KBI to partner in research and production of human vaccines as a long-term measure to ensure Kenya becomes self-sufficient in its vaccine and in building security of supply,” Kemri said in a statement.
Kemri acting DG Elijah Songok said the MoU is in line with the government's agenda of advancing the economic pillar of local manufacturing and the development objective of UHC.
On his part, Kemri board chairman Abdullahi Ali welcomed the collaboration saying the government is working tirelessly to ensure that the country is able to develop and produce its own vaccines.
This, he said, is informed by the aftermath of COVID-19, where African countries were not on the priority list to access 19 vaccines.
“Additionally, GAVI (Global Vaccine Initiative) that has been supporting Kenya and other countries to access affordable vaccines for their Immunisation programmes shall cease support from 2027, hence a dire need for Kenya to be independent,” Ali said.
In the MoU, Kemri will provide technical advice to Biovax on potential health products and technologies production in response to forecasted epidemics and pandemics.
It will also and enable technical and operational knowledge exchange and capacity-building opportunities.
