Africa’s Vaccine Production Capacity Expands

South Africa Begins Trial of First Homegrown Vaccine in 50 Years

South Africa has launched clinical trials for its first locally developed vaccine in half a century; an oral cholera inoculation designed by the Biovac Institute, a partly state-owned vaccine manufacturer.

The initiative marks a major step toward vaccine self-sufficiency in Africa, where less than 1% of global vaccines are produced, despite infectious diseases remaining the continent’s leading cause of death, particularly among children under five.

If successful, Biovac plans to commercially produce and distribute the vaccine by 2028, helping to address global shortages as cholera surges across Africa. This year alone, the disease has caused nearly 7,000 deaths and 300,000 suspected cases, accounting for 94% of global cholera fatalities, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Biovac CEO Morena Makhoana said the project “addresses a critical, life-saving need” amid recurring outbreaks driven by conflict, poverty, and climate change.

President Cyril Ramaphosa hailed the trial as a breakthrough for African innovation and a key milestone in efforts to strengthen the continent’s health sovereignty. South Africa and Senegal currently remain the only African nations capable of producing vaccines from start to finish.

Last week, Biovac also opened a new product-development laboratory in Cape Town to expand its vaccine research pipeline and boost future production capacity.