Local vaccine production boosts economic transformation and job creation in South Africa
Accounting for as many as 14% of all childhood deaths under the age of five years, pneumonia remains the single largest infectious cause of death in children globally, with 740,180 children succumbing to the disease in 2019 alone.
As such, immunisation remains the most effective manner in which to prevent pneumonia, with pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) proven effective in reducing pneumococcal disease.
PCVs are key to reducing mortalities
First introduced in South Africa in 2009, early studies on South Africa’s pneumococcal disease burden bear evidence of the efficacy of PCV vaccines. With severe pneumococcal disease in children aged 0-59 months, averaging 107,600 cases per year between 2005 and 2008, this number dramatically declined to an estimated 41,800 between 2012 and 2013.
While several interventions were in place such as HIV-care and prevention initiatives, the introduction of effective PCV medications is likely attributed to this decline.
Advancements in healthcare technologies have allowed vaccines to evolve, and a 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine that has wide coverage against 13 types of pneumonia, was first recommended by the country’s health services in 2011 as a cost-effective means to safeguard against the disease.
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines save lives and reduce the burden that pneumonia plays on the healthcare system, and according to research, have prevented as many as 175 million cases of the disease and more than 624,000 deaths globally .
The overall South African annual mortality rate for pneumococcal disease in 2012–2013 was estimated at 36 per 100,000 py in children aged 0–59 months, a rate difference of 61 per 100,000 py (63% reduction) compared with the pre-PCV years.
The local manufacture of the vaccine has alleviated South Africa’s dependence on foreign imports and ensured an adequate supply of essential vaccines for the South African people.
Partnering to save lives
Exceptional collaborative efforts between the South African Department of Health and private entities such as the Biovac Institute have been instrumental in supplying as many as 15 million vaccine doses annually to South Africa, including its initial focus of producing pneumococcal conjugate vaccines.
The Cape Town-based institute’s expertise in vaccine development is unwavering, and in recent times, has been a frontrunner in the development of vaccines against Covid-19.
In 2015, the Biovac Institute entered into a partnership with Pfizer to further improve access to essential vaccines by manufacturing an innovative 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in South Africa, replacing the earlier 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.
In addition to its manufacturing and delivery of life-saving vaccines, the Biovac Institute plays a critical role in South Africa’s economy and employment rate. It is the only southern African human vaccine manufacturer and ensures that the country has the domestic capacity to respond to both local and regional vaccine needs.
The institute has become a significant contributor to South Africa’s economy, adding as much as R500m per year and investing more than R800m in infrastructure and skills-development initiatives. It also provided employment opportunities in the industry, increasing its employee base from 30 to more than 320 since 2003.
Bolstering the impact of vaccine manufacturing in Africa
The vaccine-manufacturing and production industry on the African continent was given an additional boost in 2021 when the African Union established the Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing. The initiative will enable the African vaccine-manufacturing industry to develop, produce and supply over 60% of the total vaccine doses required by the continent by 2040, with South Africa being a major contributor to this.
The benefits of this are numerous, with increased vaccine-development investment initiatives on the continent and in South Africa having a significant impact on overall health security and economic development. This includes an influence on regional regulatory and trade-policy harmonisation, increased technological expertise, cost reductions from otherwise imported vaccines and reduced reliance on foreign trade, and reduced supply-chain disruptions.
Most notably, substantial economic stimulation will see a higher GDP, increased investments and intracontinental trade, and much-needed job-creation opportunities. Research indicates that more than 12,500 vaccine-related job roles can be created by 2040 on the continent, up from only 3,000 at present.
Furthermore, it has the potential to see an additional 33,000 jobs being created indirectly by industry suppliers.
Ensuring continued future success
To further support vaccine manufacturing on the African continent and to ensure that South Africa retains its place as a major contributor to vaccine development, Pfizer announced earlier this year at the South African Investment Conference that a further R255m would be invested in 2022 - bolstering the already R600m the company has added to its partnership with the Biovac Institute.
The benefits of vaccine manufacture in South Africa cannot be overlooked, and by ensuring that existing partnerships between government and private entities, as well as new ones, are protected and supported, will allow the country to reap the economic and healthcare rewards while cementing its authority as a leader in healthcare development - an attribute that will attract even greater investment and prosperity into the country.
About Patrick Tippoo
Patrick Tippoo is the executive director of the African Vaccine Manufacturing Initiative (AVMI).
Related
