COVID-19 cases top 10 000 in Africa.
7 APRIL 2020 – The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa has risen to more than 10 000 and caused more than 500 deaths. While the virus was slow to reach the continent compared to other parts of the world, infection has grown exponentially in recent weeks and continues to spread.
If a coronavirus vaccine arrives, can the world make enough?
Researchers warn production constraints and hoarding could limit SARS-CoV-2 vaccine supplies.
The COVID-19 vaccine development landscape.
9 APRIL 2020 – The genetic sequence of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, was published on 11 January 2020, triggering intense global R&D activity to develop a vaccine against the disease. The scale of the humanitarian and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is driving evaluation of next-generation vaccine technology platforms through novel paradigms to accelerate development, and the first COVID-19 vaccine candidate entered human clinical testing with unprecedented rapidity on 16 March 2020.
Global collaboration to accelerate new COVID-19 health technologies
24 APRIL 2020 – Global health actors, private sector partners and other stakeholders are launching a landmark collaboration to accelerate the development, production and equitable global access to new COVID-19 essential health technologies. View press release below.
Push for Local Vaccine Production as race for COVID-19 antidote continues.
6th JULY 2020 – The World is facing an unprecedented health challenge that has seen the loss of over 500,000 in just 7 months. The novel 2019 Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) was first reported on 31st December 2019 and declared a global pandemic a month later by the World Health Organization on 30th March 2020. The first case in Africa, which has since reported over 350,000 cases, was reported 14th February 2020 in Egypt.
HIV raises the risk of death from COVID-19 in South Africa’s Western Cape.
8 JULY 2020 – HIV raises the risk of death from COVID-19 in South Africa’s Western Cape province and around eight percent of deaths from COVID-19 in the province are attributable to HIV, Dr Mary-Ann Davies of the Western Cape Health Department told the 23rd International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2020: Virtual) today.
African Union aims to scale up COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials.
10 JULY 2020 — Currently there is only one clinical trial of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate in sub-Saharan Africa, taking place in South Africa. But the African Union and World Health Organization, among others, are hoping that the number of clinical trials will increase across the continent to ensure that any successful vaccines that come to market will actually work for African populations and that they will be accessible to people across the continent
COVID-19 Vaccine trial at Groote Schuur to be rolled out next week.
23 JULY 2020 – South Africa’s COVID-19 vaccine trial will be rolled out in the Western Cape by next week. Over 700 volunteers have so far been screened to participate in the randomized vaccine efficacy study.
Mpox crisis: Why do African countries struggle to make or buy vaccines?
12 SEPTEMBER 2024 – After months of delay due to logistics, the first sets of mpox vaccines have finally begun arriving in Democratic Republic of the Congo, donated by Western countries.
The Central African nation is the epicentre of a new Mpox outbreak that led the World Health Organization (WHO) to sound its highest alert level last month. In 2024, more than 20,000 Mpox cases have been reported and more than 500 people have died. The virus is present in 13 African countries, as well as in some European and Asian nations.
AVMI Hosts Ghana Minister Of Health For Fact-finding Mission On Vaccine Manufacturing Operations In SA
13 AUGUST 2024 – The African Vaccine Manufacturing Initiative (AVMI) hosted the Honourable Minister of Health for Ghana, Bernard Okoe Boye and his delegation today (August 12, 2024), in what was a fact-finding mission to observe vaccine development and manufacturing operations in Cape Town, South Africa.
This significant visit aimed to highlight South Africa’s vaccine production capabilities and discuss potential areas of partnership between Ghana and South Africa to enhance vaccine accessibility and healthcare infrastructure.
Ghana minister of health in SA on mission to hunt for vaccine manufacturing operations
13 AUGUST 2024 – The African Vaccine Manufacturing Initiative (AVMI) hosted Ghana’s Minister of Health, Bernard Okoe Boye, and his group on Monday, August 12, for a fact-finding tour at the vaccine development and production operations in Cape Town, South Africa.
This crucial visit was intended to promote South Africa’s vaccine production capabilities and to identify potential areas of collaboration between Ghana and South Africa to improve vaccine accessibility and healthcare infrastructure.
African Union aims to scale up COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials.
10 JULY 2020 — Currently there is only one clinical trial of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate in sub-Saharan Africa, taking place in South Africa. But the African Union and World Health Organization, among others, are hoping that the number of clinical trials will increase across the continent to ensure that any successful vaccines that come to market will actually work for African populations and that they will be accessible to people across the continent.