Plans are set for the construction of the Moderna mRNA manufacturing plant in Kenya. Reportedly Moderna completed an agreement with Kenya’s government on the implementation of the project.
The new plant will be able to manufacture up to 500 million doses of vaccines each year. Furthermore, according to Moderna, the mRNA manufacturing plant will be able to boost its production capacity. This is in response to public medical emergencies on the continent or throughout the globe.
Reasons for establishment of Moderna mRNA manufacturing plant in Kenya
A Moderna spokesperson claimed that the company settled on Kenya for the new plant. This is because Kenya has a dynamic economy and is a growing commercial as well as a transportation hub.
Moreover, Moderna disclosed that it will function under a Special Economic Zone status within the country. The company didn’t give any other details on the facility’s location, the jobs involved, or the estimated completion date.
The spokesperson said that their objective is to build a significant, long-term presence in the country. Moderna stated its intention to invest $500 million in the new spot when the memorandum of agreement was inked last year.
According to Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel, the completion of their agreement with the Kenyan Government is seen as a key pillar of their global public health strategy. The CEO also added that they are committed to bringing mRNA innovation to the African population in areas of high unmet need, like acute respiratory infections, persistent infectious diseases like HIV, and outbreak threats like Ebola and Zika.
Across the continent, there are other mRNA manufacturing operations as well. Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, is the home of a modular mRNA production plant being constructed by BioNTech. Afrigen Biologics and Vaccines, located in South Africa, partnered with the WHO to develop its own mRNA vaccine. It is also developing a network for transferring mRNA vaccine technology.
