Africa CDC’s new Continental Immunisation Strategy 2026-2030 aims to revive vaccine coverage as outbreaks rise and funding tightens. According to immunisation experts who helped develop it, coverage is failing to keep pace with population growth. In 2025, about 7.1 million African children (15.6% of those under a year old) missed even a single routine dose. Immunisation Gains in Africa are…
Tag: Biovac
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SA Pharma Localisation Faces Foreign Investor Pressure
South Africa’s pharmaceutical sector has become a major industrial battleground. The government is pushing hard to localise production and boost public procurement. It also wants to rebuild domestic capacity. However, outside forces are complicating these goals. Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau delivered this warning at a recent stakeholder engagement. He noted that foreign investors remain highly interested in…
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Biovac Vaccine Tender Secures Critical R5.3bn State Contract
The Biovac Institute has retained a critical contract to supply the South African state with Hexaxim. Hexaxim is the six-in-one shot provided to infants in the national childhood immunisation programme. The R5.3bn award was announced in the Department of Health’s next three-year national vaccine tender. This tender is set to begin on January 1, 2027. This contract is vital to…
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Biovac Expansion Fundraising: $20M Secured from France
South African vaccine manufacturer Biovac has secured a further $20m (R327m) from two French development finance institutions. This brings its total fundraising to $128m (R2.4bn) and leaves the company within striking distance of its $180m (R2.95bn) target. Moreover, this new investment marks a significant milestone in the ongoing Biovac expansion fundraising effort. Agence Française de Développement and its private-sector arm,…
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African Vaccine Manufacturing Expansion Set For Biovac Site
The South African vaccine producer Biovac has announced a major expansion of its Cape Town operations. This is a significant development in African vaccine manufacturing. This ambitious project receives significant backing from the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). The new financing package will help Biovac develop end-to-end production capabilities. The primary focus will initially…
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Cholera Vaccine Trial Aims for Self-Reliance in Africa
South Africa has taken a pivotal step towards pharmaceutical independence with the launch of a new South African cholera vaccine trial. The state-backed manufacturer, Biovac, in partnership with the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), has initiated clinical trials for a candidate oral cholera vaccine. Many hail this development as a crucial move to reduce Africa’s dependence on imported medicines.…
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Biovac R&D Lab to Drive Vaccine Manufacturing in Africa
State-backed vaccine manufacturer Biovac has officially launched a new product development laboratory at its Cape Town facility. This move strengthens its capacity to produce vaccines entirely on African soil, from start to finish. The new Biovac R&D lab in Pinelands, Cape Town, will enable scientists to conduct cutting-edge research and development (R&D) on the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for novel…
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Biovac Secures Deal to Produce Pneumonia Vaccine
In a significant move for continental health security, Cape Town-based research group Biovac has announced a major technology transfer agreement with Indian pharmaceutical firm Biological E. The Biovac initiative will enable the company to produce and distribute a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV14) across Africa. This marks a vital step towards self-sufficiency in vaccine manufacturing. The partnership will accelerate the growth…