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mRNA vaccine technology is key to Africa’s public health independence Sustained vaccine expertise, I.P, and manufacturing capacity required for vaccine sovereignty in Africa. 29 July 2026

University of the WitwatersrandRef: https://www.wits.ac.za/news/latest-news/research-news/2026/-2026-07/mrna-vaccine-technology-is-key-to-africas-public-health-independence.html

Official source

Source domain: wits.ac.za

Collected on 30 July 2026

Always confirm details on the official source before acting.

Our copy (archived 30 July 2026)Official source

What this means

This is a news article page from Wits University dated 29 July 2026 titled “mRNA vaccine technology is key to Africa’s public health independence.” It reports that scientists at Wits (from the Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit and the Synthetic Organic Chemistry Group) published findings in the journal Communications Medicine about barriers and requirements for Africa to achieve vaccine sovereignty, including building local mRNA expertise, intellectual property, and manufacturing capacity. The article highlights examples such as using cashew nut shell liquid to develop ionisable lipids for mRNA lipid nanoparticles, and it references the WHO/Medicines Patent Pool mRNA Technology Transfer Programme with Afrigen as the central hub in South Africa.

Facts

Places

City of Johannesburg, Gauteng, City of Cape Town, Western Cape

Reference

https://www.wits.ac.za/news/latest-news/research-news/2026/-2026-07/mrna-vaccine-technology-is-key-to-africas-public-health-independence.html

Key Takeaways

  • Title: mRNA vaccine technology is key to Africa’s public health independence
  • Date: 29 July 2026
  • Source: Wits University (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg)
  • Claim: Africa needs sustained vaccine expertise, intellectual property, and manufacturing capacity for vaccine sovereignty
  • Statistic: only 1% of vaccines dispensed are manufactured locally (as stated in the article)
  • Target: African CDC aims to increase vaccine production to 60% by 2040
  • Publication: findings published in Communications Medicine (Springer Nature)
  • Example: cashew nut shell liquid used to develop ionisable lipids for mRNA lipid nanoparticles
  • Programme referenced: WHO and Medicines Patent Pool mRNA Technology Transfer Programme
  • Hub named: Afrigen Biologics and Vaccines in Cape Town
  • Hub-and-spoke model mentioned for technology transfer
  • Authors named: Patrick Arbuthnot, Kristie Bloom, Dylan Kairuz, Connor Stockley, Robin Klintworth, Charles de Koning, Abdullah Ely
  • Wits University (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg)
  • Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit (AGTRU)
  • Synthetic Organic Chemistry Group
  • Communications Medicine (Springer Nature journal)
  • African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (African CDC)
  • World Health Organization (WHO)
  • Medicines Patent Pool
  • mRNA Technology Transfer Programme
  • Afrigen Biologics and Vaccines
  • Patrick Arbuthnot
  • Kristie Bloom
  • Dylan Kairuz
  • Connor Stockley
  • Robin Klintworth
  • Charles de Koning
  • Abdullah Ely

Dates

Closing Date

29 July 2026