The Biovac Institute, a vaccine manufacturer based in Cape Town, is ready to begin production of mpox vaccines, but is waiting for "more intimate discussions" with companies like Bavarian Nordic A/S, one of the few with an approved mpox vaccine, according to Biovac CEO Morena Makhoana.
In an interview on Bloomberg Television, Makhoana explained that Biovac has the capability to produce the vaccine, including the necessary cold storage requirements for Bavarian Nordic's shot. This infrastructure was established during the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine tech transfer, which took place three years ago.
"From what we can understand at a higher level, we are able to manufacture the vaccine at our facilities in Cape Town," Makhoana was quoted as saying.
However, Makhoana emphasized the need for sustainable business models, noting that relying solely on outbreak-driven production is not viable.
"Nobody can run a sustainable business just dealing with outbreaks," he said, as cited by the media.
Bavarian Nordic has assured that it can meet the immunization needs of African nations, but Biovac is seeking clarity on whether there will be ongoing demand for the vaccine. This could manifest as either a preventative program with clear targets or as stockpiling by organizations such as the Africa Centers for Disease Control (Africa CDC), Gavi, or UNICEF.
"At the moment, none of that has come through," Makhoana said, adding that certainty of demand would lead to sustainable vaccine production, enabling local manufacturers to be better prepared for future outbreaks.
On August 14, the WHO also declared the mpox epidemic a public health emergency of international concern. More than 22,800 cases and at least 622 deaths from mpox have been recorded in 13 African countries since January, as per the Africa CDC.