Moderna to Build Covid-19 plant in Kenya

Moderna on Monday disclosed its plan to set up a Covid-19 facility in Kenya to produce messenger RNA (mRNA) with a goal of manufacturing 500 million doses annually. It will be the first manufacturing facility in Africa.

The American biotechnology firm had announced in October last year its plan to build a facility in Africa but had not yet mentioned the country that would host it. In an agreement with the Kenyan government, the company’s plan will include filling doses of its covid vaccine as early as 2023.

President Uhuru Kenyatta in his remarks noted that the establishment of the MRNA manufacturing facility will help the continent fight the emerging pandemics. The Head of State added that the lack of vaccines derailed Africa’s performance after the continent was hit by the pandemic. He also noted the vision for Kenya to produce vaccines.

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‘’We are pleased to partner with Moderna in the establishment of this MRNA manufacturing facility to help prepare the country and our sister states on the continent through the African Union to respond to the future health crisis and stave off the next pandemic… we all know the challenges Kenya and the entire continent of  Africa went through in the earlier stages of this pandemic that resulted in Africa being left behind. Not because of want but because of lack, and Modena has come to fill the space,’’ President Kenyatta said.

Africa has been behind other regions in terms of vaccinating its citizens and some efforts have been placed in recent months to help the continent produce its own mRNA covid 19 shots.

The World Health Organization last year introduced a tech transfer hub in South Africa to help indigent countries produce covid 19 vaccines. Its effort to reach Moderna to join them in the initiative failed, as reported by WHO senior Officials.

Moderna’s covid vaccine sales attained $17.7 billion in 2021 and have been cleared for use in over 70 countries with Kenya among them.

Moderna’s mRNA plan includes 28 vaccine programs including vaccines against respiratory viruses, vaccines against latent viruses, and vaccines against threats to global public health.

Article by Jane Muia