Local vaccine production, manufacturing key to combatting burden of disease

Africa must continue to pursue, and drive the recent momentum in, the establishment of vaccine production capabilities and capacity on the continent to combat diseases and ensure healthy societies. South Africa experienced about 107 000 deaths from pneumococcal diseases prior to the introduction of the locally made 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) in 2011. The number of deaths has since decreased substantially, University of KwaZulu-Natal paediatric intensive care and pulmonology department head Professor Jeena Prakash said on September 7.