How do we become action and implementation orientated?

percent of its total vaccine consumption. Ninety-nine percent of these vaccines are imported from elsewhere in the world. A similar pattern is evidenced across the pharmaceutical sector as a whole, including access to and distribution of pharmaceutical technologies.

It is important to explore how Africa can produce its vaccine and health technologies and expand manufacturing capabilities. Prof Ismail celebrated leadership on the continent through Africa CDC, which has brought countries together to negotiate and apply pressure on big pharmaceutical companies; and is also driving research through its task force. He stressed the Nelson Mandela School’s commitment to research and dialogue that supports the work of the AfCFTA Secretariat, Africa CDC and other partners. Prof Ismail thanked the speakers and Ms Narsai for dedicating their time to contribute to this research process.

4.2 Introduction: Contextualization of the vaccine manufacturing discussion in terms of AfCFTA and what makes this discussion different from others? How do we become action and implementation orientated?

Ms Narsai noted the multiple conversations, which took place in 2021 to address the global challenge of vaccine equity and the lack of vaccine manufacturing capacity in Africa. Although these dialogues achieved consensus that Africa needed to develop its vaccine manufacturing capacity, the conversations stopped short of translating policy into practical recommendations on how to establish sustainable local vaccine manufacturing capabilities.

She emphasized that the AfCFTA provides an important framework to drive this agenda since other pillars, including Africa’s Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan and existing national industrial policies, which prioritised local pharmaceutical manufacturing in many countries have not managed to reach the objectives of sector development and self-sufficiency. Ms Narsai posited that a new approach to vaccine manufacturing must include non-manufacturing countries and analyse how they can contribute to the value chain by providing either production or service inputs into the value chain to improve efficiency and reduce costs. Additionally, questions need to be asked about where production inputs, equipment and services come from currently, and what is the potential for localisation without hampering the production process. She noted the vaccine stockouts which took place in 2021 were a result of import dependency on production inputs, and therefore it is important to ensure that this does not happen in the future.

She introduced the panel to the roundtable participants. The speaker bios are included in the final section of this report.