The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and Kenya Biovax Institute have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to pave way to new scales and opportunities in vaccine manufacturing, supply security and capacity building in Kenya.
According to KEMRI this is in line with the Institute’s mission to Improve Human Health and Quality of Life through Research, Capacity Building and Service Delivery.
The MoU enables KEMRI and KBI to partner in research and production of human vaccines, as a long-term measure to ensure Kenya becomes self -sufficient in its vaccine and in building security of supply.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, KEMRI acting Director General Elijah Songok highlighted that the MoU is in line with the governments agenda of advancing the economic pillar of local manufacturing and the development objective on Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
KEMRI Board of Directors Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ali welcomed the collaboration citing that government is working tirelessly to ensure that the country is able to develop and produce its own vaccines, informed by the aftermath of COVID -19, where African countries were not on priority list to access COVID-19 vaccines.
Additionally, GAVI (Global Vaccine Initiative) the organization that has been supporting Kenya and other countries to access affordable vaccines for their Immunization programs shall cease support from 2027, hence a dire need for Kenya to be independent.
