Africa’s pursuit of self-reliance in vaccine manufacturing has long been hindered by a lack of skilled workforce and inadequate educational infrastructure.

With the introduction of two new Master of Science programmes – the Master of Vaccinology and the Master of Science in Medical Products Regulatory Affairs – by the East African Community Regional Centre of Excellence for Vaccines, Immunization, and Health Supply Chain Management (EAC RCE-VIHSCM), Rwanda is laying the groundwork for a future-ready workforce poised to drive innovation in vaccine manufacturing.

In November 2023, the EAC RCE-VIHSCM unveiled its Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Analysis and Quality Assurance programme, welcoming an inaugural cohort of 29 students from across all East African Community (EAC) Partner States.

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During a press interview held on Thursday, March 7, as part of a validation workshop for the courses, experts shed light on the potential of these programmes to address current challenges.

Dr Chiluba Mwila, Senior Technical Advisor for Talent Development at Africa CDC, emphasised the organisation’s role in conducting comprehensive needs assessments. He explained, "As a continental organisation, we have engaged in discussions with vaccine manufacturers to identify the essential skills and competencies required for effective operation.”

While Africa CDC isn’t a training institution itself, Mwila highlighted its collaboration with training institutions across the continent. "Collaboration ensures that the training needs identified by manufacturers are communicated to institutions developing curricula and programmes.”

He underscored the scarcity of courses catering to the growing workforce needs in vaccine manufacturing and expressed optimism about the Master of Science in Vaccinology course, aimed at addressing this gap.

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"Such programmes will help shape a skilled workforce, particularly in countries like Rwanda, where vaccine manufacturing activities are on the rise. The Master of Science in Regulatory Affairs will also ensure the safety and efficacy of vaccines and pharmaceutical products for human use,” Mwila said.

Regarding the next steps, Teta Gisa, Director General for Africa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, highlighted the German government’s contribution of €34 million (approximately Rwf47.4 billion), with €10 million specifically designated for talent development in vaccine manufacturing within the East African Community (EAC).

Gisa emphasised the role of these funds in providing essential resources for curriculum development, faculty training, and infrastructure enhancement, while also highlighting the opportunity for East Africans to benefit from scholarships of up to €15,000 per programme on an equal quota basis.

Dr Stephen Karengera, Director of the East African Community Regional Centre of Excellence for Vaccines, Immunization, and Health Supply Chain Management (EAC RCE-VIHSCM), elaborated on the target beneficiaries and objectives of the programmes. He emphasised that the programmes primarily target public servants and individuals working in the industry, particularly those involved in biomanufacturing or manufacturing facilities within the EAC region.

"Originally, the plan was to select four participants from each country. However, with the inclusion of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Somalia, the number per country may be reduced to three per intake,” he said.

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Karengera also highlighted Rwanda’s role in spearheading innovations in the pharmaceutical sector, positioning the country as a leader in disrupting traditional pharmaceutical practices. He cited examples such as the African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation and the International Vaccine Institute, which are establishing operations in Rwanda to facilitate technology transfer to developing countries. Additionally, he mentioned initiatives like the African Biomanufacturing Institute and the BioNtech plant, set to utilise cutting-edge technology for vaccine production.

Acknowledging the challenges ahead, Karengera stressed the importance of addressing key factors essential for production, including capital, labour, and resources.

The World Health Organization (WHO) underscores the substantial allocation of government health budgets to medicines, often exceeding 40 per cent, particularly in developing nations.

In response to this, Africa and its global health partners have committed to change, the continent aims to fortify its vaccine ecosystem to ensure the sustainability and security of its vaccine value chain, thereby mitigating vaccine access disparities and the repercussions of pandemics.

Currently, Africa produces less than 1 per cent of the vaccines it consumes. To rectify this, the Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM) was established in 2021. PAVM’s ambitious objective is to empower the African vaccine manufacturing sector to cater to over 60 per cent of the continent’s vaccine demand by 2040, with intermediate goals of 10 per cent by 2025 and 30 per cent by 2030.

Achieving PAVM’s 2040 aspirations necessitates quadrupling the vaccine workforce to approximately 12,500 full-time employees (FTEs). This entails training around 10,500 new FTEs, with approximately 9,500 new positions created and a projected 10 per cent reduction in brain drain.

Dr Didas Muganga Kayihura, Vice Chancellor of the University of Rwanda, emphasised the imperative for swift action. "Rwanda, Senegal, Ghana, and South Africa are frontrunners in this endeavour,” stressing the urgency of workforce development in both the pharmaceutical/vaccine manufacturing sector and regulatory industry.

The centre offers full scholarships for students from the EAC Partner States, facilitated by active collaboration with industries, particularly through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), manufacturing plants, or Quality Control (QC) labs where the government holds a stake. Candidates are selected based on criteria such as gender, age limit, disability, and geographical equity, with each EAC Partner State eligible for up to four scholarships.