Efforts to establish mRNA vaccine production in Africa, touted as a solution to vaccine inequity, are hitting roadblocks due to stringent IP protections and technical secrecy. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) mRNA technology transfer hub in South Africa successfully replicated Moderna’s vaccine in 2022 but faces legal threats despite the company’s pledge not to enforce patents.
“We’ve proven we can produce quality vaccines, but scaling up requires access to raw materials and know-how,” said Dr. Petro Terblanche of Afrigen Biologics. “Companies like Pfizer and BioNTech refuse to share critical data, citing trade secrets.” The hub’s output remains symbolic, with only 100,000 doses produced annually—far short of Africa’s demand for 700 million doses.
Meanwhile, Pfizer and BioNTech continue to prioritize lucrative contracts with wealthy nations. Their “fair pricing” model charges African countries $6.75 per dose—triple the production cost—while the EU pays $23.15. “This isn’t equity; it’s exploitation,” said Mohga Kamal-Yanni of the People’s Vaccine Alliance. “Breaking monopolies is essential to achieving vaccine sovereignty.”
As the African Union pushes for 60% of vaccines to be locally produced by 2040, advocates urge binding WTO reforms and stronger technology-sharing mandates. “Without systemic change,” warned Kamal-Yanni, “the next pandemic will repeat the same tragic script.”
