The World Bank commits $120 million to support construction of Kenya’s first vaccine production facility

The World Bank has pledged $120 million to aid Kenya in its development of the country’s first vaccine production facility. The announcement was made during a tour of the facility in Embakasi, Nairobi, led by the Health Principal Secretary, Harry Kimutai, and the World Bank Vice President for Human Development, Mamta Murthi.

The project is being headed by the Kenya BioVax Institute, whose initial plans involve importing vaccines to be filled and packaged within the country for the next five years. This is a crucial move towards Kenya achieving vaccine self-sufficiency and aligns with the country’s goal to satisfy its increasing vaccine needs. At present, Kenya’s annual vaccine requirement is 16 million doses, a number expected to rise to 25 million in the near future.

Acknowledging the World Bank’s substantial support, Mr. Kimutai said, “The World Bank is one of the biggest supporters of our journey to vaccine production.” The upcoming facility, fitted with two filling lines, is equipped to meet the expected demand.

The move comes at a critical moment following the recent approval of a malaria vaccine tested in Kenya by the World Health Organization. The development of local vaccine production capabilities is expected to bolster Kenya’s healthcare system and contribute to improved health security in the wider region and on the African continent.