Rwanda welcomed Africa’s first mRNA vaccine factory on Monday, March 13, as the country looks to boost the continent’s vaccine manufacturing capabilities, thanks in large part to a partnership with German biotech company BioNTech.

The development comes at a time when Africa manufactures less than 1 percent of the vaccines it consumes, relying on other countries for the rest.

The inequality was further exposed during the Covid-19 pandemic when bigger economies scooped Covid-19 vaccines for their own citizens first, leaving Africans behind.

Monday’s shipment, however, according to the Minister of Health, Sabin Nsanzimana is a big deal for not only Rwanda but the rest of Africa.

Nsanzimana believes that beyond the milestone in Rwanda’s health care, the technology also provides various educational and economic benefits among others.

Below are five things you should know about the development.

The factory consists of two modules

BioNTech modular factory consists of two modules, each made from six shipping containers.

In the first module, which landed in Kigali on Monday, mRNA is produced and purified. In the second, it is made into a vaccine.

Local partners can then package the mRNA vaccine into doses.

The mRNA vaccine factory can be shipped via truck, train, or freighter and then assemble on-site.

It takes up about 8,600 square feet of space, and BioNTech says one factory can produce up to 50-100 million doses of its mRNA COVID-19 vaccine annually.

In Rwanda, the factory will be stationed in Kigali Special Economic Zone where the plant is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.

It’s not clear when the second module will follow, but production of vaccines is expected to begin one year after it arrives.

Not limited to Covid-19 shots

BioNTech’s goal is to set up two BioNtainers in Kigali before shipping others to Senegal and possibly South Africa, however, the firm’s Chief Operating Officer, Sierk Poetting said these factories are not be limited to producing Covid-19 jabs.

BioNTech is currently developing mRNA vaccines for malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV, and if these shots prove effective, they could be manufactured in the same BioNTainer factories, too, thanks to the mRNA latest technology.

The firm expects any mRNA vaccines made at the facility to be used domestically or exported to other members of the African Union at a not-for-profit price.

"We see an opportunity to tackle such diseases and this will among other benefits increase life expectancy of our people, but there are also economic benefits,” said Minister Nsanzimana.

"Good progress” at the construction of BioNTech vaccine plant

If the current pace is maintained, BioNTech’s vaccine manufacturing plant under construction in Kigali could be complete by the end of 2023, officials have confirmed.

According to Miriam Ostheimer, senior director at the firm, "the goal is to have the hall up by the end of this year and the target is to go into production 12 to 18 months later.”

"I think it is feasible, we have received a lot of support and because of this we were able to progress quite fast and we have a very positive outlook into the future.”

Located in Masoro-Munini, Gasabo District, the 3ha facility will be set up in a section earmarked for biopharma manufacturing.

Revisiting the chain

Much as the majority of African nations are now well-supplied with Covid-19 vaccines, getting doses from manufacturing sites elsewhere in the world to Africa remains a challenge.

Many shots require a cold chain, and the farther they need to be transported, the greater the chances of that chain breaking.

"For us it is important because you see the power of partnership to come with solutions that can save humanity. The transformation we have seen in the past three years is remarkable,” said Minister Nsanzimana.

"We are importing 99 percent of the vaccines used on the continent yet the disease burden is considerably higher. Bringing the solution here is also important and it doesn't happen by chance. There is also that sense of leadership.”

Reacting on the current order of the value chain, Nsanzimana argued that there is a "positive change.”

"We are seeing a positive change, which is very important, that brings together the north and the south to work around the same solutions to address common challenges.”

Benefits beyond just health care

BioNTech will staff and run the factory itself at first, but the plan is to transfer the operation to Rwandans to run independently.

"Equally important are the benefits in the education sector. Another area where we need to intensify our efforts for better productivity is the education system.”

For instance, Nsanzimana said, data indicates that the African continent contributes only 2 percent of the scientific output especially for the clinical trials.

"With all the disease burden that we have this should be concerning.”

However, he added, "With this partnership we want to play our role in closing this gap. By at least 10 percent or 20 percent.”

"These young people, scientists, students should be able to produce the next vaccine, the next therapeutics with or without us, because we have shown them the technology. I see a lot of benefits for our education sector and for our science communities.”