[FULL LETTER] Ramaphosa laments Africa’s lack of vaccine manufacturing capacity
President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged South Africans to join the fight for developing countries manufacture their own Covid-19 vaccines.
In his weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa said it is unfair that less than 5% of Covid-19 vaccines is being manufactured in Africa and South America.
He said 55% of the existing vaccine is manufactured in East Asia, while 40% is made in Europe and North America.
Ramaphosa welcomed the move by the United States to support South Africa and India’s proposal to waiver certain intellectual property rights when it comes to Covid-19 vaccines.
"South Africa is one of only five countries on the continent with vaccine production capacity," he said.
"Although we have secured enough vaccine doses to reach ‘population immunity’, there will continue to be a need for vaccines.
"We are therefore preparing to bolster global vaccine manufacturing for Covid-19 and other major diseases. Existing facilities need to be repurposed and new capacity built."
Read the full letter below:
From The Desk of The President - Monday, 10 May 2021 - https://t.co/GAJnCKBjeG Twenty years ago, South Africa was the site of victory in a lawsuit that pitted public good against private profit. #TRIPSWaiver pic.twitter.com/geQcbcLZeQ
— Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) May 10, 2021
