蜜芽传媒

The Africa Centre for Disease Control says it will continue negotiations to ensure that purchases of vaccines for the continent are from African manufacturers.

The announcement came hours after the South African pharmaceutical company, Aspen Pharmacare, said it will stop making Covid 19 vaccines from the end of this month after orders dried up.

蜜芽传媒 Newsday asked Professor David Walwyn at the School of Technology Management, University of Pretoria if this was a big blow for the goal of increasing home-grown vaccine production in Africa.

"It's a big blow, almost tragic outcome. It's a crucial thing for African countries to be doing as was illustrated at the start of the Covid vaccine campaign when there was a global shortage. The decision is sending a wrong message.... and [may] discourage potential investors and other manufacturers."

(Photo: South African health worker injects syringe into a man's arm; Credit: EPA)