A new plant that will produce COVID-19 and other vaccines is set to be built in Senegal, thanks to an injection of US$80 million.

The Dakar-based French non-profit Institut Pasteur will operate the plant to help reduce Africa’s dependence on vaccine imports, which account for 99% of the continent’s needs.

Reuters reports that the European Investment Bank has pledged the funds.

Once complete, the facility will manufacture vaccines for COVID-19, yellow fever and other endemic diseases. It is expected to produce up to 300 million doses per year at full capacity, starting by the end of 2022.

14 June 2022
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