African Leaders Urged to Acquire UK Vaccine Facility

Lebo Radeb, Chief Executive Officer of the African Manufacturers Foundation, has called on African leaders to jointly acquire a vaccine manufacturing facility located at the Harwell Science Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. This facility, which spans 171,619 square feet, is expected to enter the market by late 2025.

Radeb emphasized that failure to secure this site could result in a missed opportunity for African nations, which have struggled to access vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic, as wealthier countries prioritized their populations. The facility is designed for pandemic-ready manufacturing, capable of producing 2.56 billion vaccine doses annually, focusing on respiratory diseases such as COVID-19 and influenza.

Radeb highlighted the importance of collaboration among African states and private investors to secure the facility, which he described as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He warned that future generations should not face vulnerabilities similar to those experienced during the last global health crisis.