The U.S. vaccine manufacturer, Moderna, has announced plans to produce mRNA vaccines in Africa.
The firm made the announcement on Thursday, that it will build a drug production plant that can produce, fill and package up to 500 million vaccine doses a year.
Moderna is to invest 500 million dollars in the plant but the site has not yet been selected.
In August, German vaccine maker BioNTech announced it would produce malaria and tuberculosis vaccines in Africa and was looking into setting up production facilities in Rwanda and Senegal.
Clinical trials for the mRNA vaccines is to begin at the end of 2022.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are also plans for a centre for the production of mRNA vaccines in South Africa with the help of a consortium.
Until now, Africa has had to import the majority of all vaccines. (dpa/NAN)
