These are seen as more suitable for use in low-resource settings as they are smaller and lighter than glass vials, reducing the cost and footprint of the cold chain.
This is a republication of the article below, with the title above, given by the Editor of the blog, to highlight the message of the benefits of the new packaging. This lessons can be applied to other countries as well.
Joaquim Cardoso MSc.
Chief Editor of “The Hybrid Health Institute” blog
Plastic pouches to replace glass vials as Covid vaccine manufacturing ramps up in Africa
The Telegraph
By Sarah Newey,
GLOBAL HEALTH SECURITY CORRESPONDENT
19 January 2022
Senegal could begin manufacturing coronavirus shots packaged in plastic pouches rather than glass vials this autumn, as efforts to produce vaccines “in Africa, for Africa” ramp up.
The Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD) — which has been making yellow fever vaccines for 80 years — is at the forefront of efforts to bolster the continent’s manufacturing capacity, and is on track to begin producing Covid shots in the third quarter of 2022.
But rather than being packaged in traditional glass vials, the IPD intends to use innovative sterile plastic pouches, which are similar to an IV drip bag and can hold and transport some 200 vaccine doses.
“We are one of only four yellow fever manufacturers in the world,” Dr Joe Fitchett, senior biotechnology adviser at the IPD, told The Telegraph. “So that’s really foundational to our work, and is the reason we believe in our capabilities and have launched this initiative to tackle Covid and other endemic diseases in Africa.”
IPD has already signed a deal with BioNTech to produce mRNA-based vaccines, including the company’s Covid-19 jab.
On Tuesday, the Senegalese research centre formalised another partnership with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (Cepi), which is set to support IPD’s efforts to become a major manufacturing hub.
IPD has already signed a deal with BioNTech to produce mRNA-based vaccines, including the company’s Covid-19 jab
The initial aim is to create a modular facility which can manufacture up to 300 million doses of Covid-19 shots annually, for use in Africa.
This will focus on fill and finish capability, with the vaccine itself largely produced in Europe and transported to Senegal where it will be packaged into the plastic pouches.
These are seen as more suitable for use in low-resource settings as they are smaller and lighter than glass vials, reducing the cost and footprint of the cold chain.
These are seen as more suitable for use in low-resource settings as they are smaller and lighter than glass vials, reducing the cost and footprint of the cold chain.
It will be the first time the technology has been used for vaccines, though the bags — produced by MedInstill/INTACT Solutions — have been used for filling sterile injectables in the United States.
Cepi has been working since March 2020 to develop the system to transport vaccine.
‘Great benefit’ in decentralising production
The agreements come while vast imbalances in access to Covid jabs worldwide remain under a harsh spotlight. Although the Covax vaccine distribution scheme delivered it’s one billionth shot this week, just 10 per cent of Africa’s population are fully vaccinated — compared to 60 per cent in Europe.
“Africa remains in the acute phase of the pandemic, and we are committed to doing our part to address the Covid-19 vaccine inequity that sadly persists,” said Dr Amadou Sall, director of the IPD.
“We will initially focus on live, inactivated virus vaccines and mRNA. Over time, as experience builds, all vaccine types could be considered,” Dr Sall told the Telegraph. “However, a focus on live/inactivated viral vaccines and mRNA is quite a broad capability that can address many of Africa’s needs and is therefore seen as a cornerstone to the facility.”
He added that this is the first step in a “broader vision to expand and diversify to new vaccines for multiple diseases that continue to threaten public health in Africa”. This includes diseases such as measles and malaria.
“Beyond Covid, it will be very important to focus on essential, routine immunisations,” said Dr Fitchett.
“There is a great benefit in decentralising manufacturing to the regions where many of these conditions occur, to anchor them in those health systems dealing with the burden of disease.”
He added that bolstering manufacturing would also have a “catalytic effect” on the regional biotech industry, and encourage producers to make raw materials needed to make shots. This is already happening for Covid diagnostics, which IPD produces.
‘Deep vaccine inequity persists’
The pandemic has highlighted the limitations of Africa’s vaccine capacity, and increasingly major producers are scrambling to partner with local organisations to tackle shortfalls.
In July, BioNTech announced a deal with South Africa’s Biovac to help produce roughly 100 million doses of their Covid-19 vaccine at a facility in Cape Town, while Moderna unveiled plans in October to invest roughly $500 million to build a facility somewhere in Africa.
There is also mounting pressure on big pharmaceuticals amid calls to share vaccine patents as access to shots remains incredibly patchy.
At the end of last year Thomas Cueni, director general of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), suggested the sector has “failed dismally” to ensure equitable rollout of shots, although he said patents were not the solution.
“Over one year after the first Covid-19 vaccine was given, deep vaccine inequity persists,” Dr Richard Hatchett, chief executive of CEPI said on Tuesday. “It is clear that additional, globally distributed manufacturing capacity is needed to reduce the reliance of the majority of the world on just a few countries for vaccines.”
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Originally published at https://www.telegraph.co.uk on January 19, 2022.
Names mentioned
The Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD)
Dr Joe Fitchett, senior biotechnology adviser at the IPD,
Dr Amadou Sall, director of the IPD.
BioNTech , mRNA
Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (Cepi),
MedInstill/INTACT Solutions
More about the solution
MEDInstill and Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Senegal, reach pioneering Fill-Finish Agreement
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