In a remarkable achievement, Ghana has become the inaugural African nation to successfully manufacture a cholera vaccine, marking a significant milestone for vaccine production on the continent.
This groundbreaking vaccine was developed by DEK Vaccines Limited, a consortium of Ghanaian pharmaceutical companies led by the private sector, which includes Danadams, Ernest Chemists, and Kinapharma.
Dr. Kofi Nsiah-Poku, the Managing Director of DEK Vaccines Limited, revealed that this cholera vaccine is part of a series of six vaccines, including those for Malaria, HPV, Pneumonia, and Rotavirus, all slated for availability by 2026.
Speaking in Accra during a visit by Dr. Jerome Kim, Director General of the International Vaccine Institute, Dr. Nsiah-Poku expressed the consortium’s ambitious goal to produce 600 million vaccine doses annually when their newly established manufacturing plant reaches full capacity, estimated to be in approximately two years.
The company is also in the process of developing a typhoid vaccine, having completed the necessary tests and awaiting certification from the World Health Organization (WHO) to commence production.
Dr. Nsiah-Poku emphasized that their pursuit of local vaccine manufacturing follows a licensing and technology transfer agreement with the IVI (International Vaccine Institute), a non-profit international organization, designed to enable the production of vaccines’ crucial raw materials.
He stated that this initiative would help alleviate vaccine shortages in Ghana and the wider West African region, particularly for diseases like malaria, cholera, cervical cancer, and other life-threatening conditions.
Dr. Kim from the IVI highlighted the significance of transferring vaccine manufacturing technology to Ghana, stating that it would empower not only Ghana but all of Africa to produce its vaccines and respond effectively to future pandemics.
He emphasized the IVI’s commitment to assisting African countries in achieving the ambitious goal of manufacturing 60% of the vaccines required against various diseases on the continent by 2040.
Dr. Kim also praised Ghana for establishing essential structures, including laboratory and field testing capabilities, for effective vaccine manufacturing regulation to ensure quality. He urged Ghana to lend its expertise to strengthen regulatory bodies across Africa, facilitating sustainable vaccine production.
The CEO of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in Ghana, Dr. Delese Mimi Darko, affirmed the FDA’s commitment to supporting vaccine development within the country and the broader African context.
She noted that other African nations like Mozambique and Senegal were already benefiting from clinical trials, market surveillance, and licensing systems.
Furthermore, the goal is to make Ghana the 41st member of the IVI, cementing its position as a key player in vaccine manufacturing and development.