Kenya to host International Vaccine Institute headquarters - CS Nakhumicha

CS Nakhumicha underlined Nairobi's commitment to vaccine manufacturing and its ambition to become a regional hub for specialized health products and technologies.

Kenya has successfully secured the hosting rights for the continental headquarters of the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to global health through vaccinations.

Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha announced the achievement during discussions on the Budget Policy Statement for the State Department of Medical Services at the Parliament Buildings in Nairobi on Thursday.

CS Nakhumicha underlined Nairobi's commitment to vaccine manufacturing and its ambition to become a regional hub for specialized health products and technologies.

“This initiative is poised to forge crucial partnerships in technology and knowledge transfer, amplifying the nation’s readiness to combat vaccine-preventable diseases during outbreaks, epidemics, or pandemics,” she said.

Childhood, adolescent girls, and maternal immunization were highlighted as primary focal points for Kenya's vaccine endeavours.

The IVI, consisting of a diverse team including biomedical scientists, infectious disease experts, health professionals, and humanitarian leaders, was founded in 1997 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Headquartered in Seoul, Korea, the institute focuses on developing vaccines against infectious diseases that disproportionately impact impoverished populations globally.

The government emphasized it remains steadfast in its efforts to bolster capabilities in vaccine prevention, preparedness, and response to outbreaks, epidemics, or pandemics.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) initially suggested establishing the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) in Kyoto, Japan.

However, after a competitive bidding process involving six Asian countries vying to host IVI, the UNDP Site Selection Committee ultimately recommended the Republic of Korea as its base.

Notable advancements made by IVI in enhancing vaccine manufacturing in Korea, along with the strategic alliance between IVI and Kenya's BioVax Institute facilitated by the Kenyan government, mark a substantial stride forward.

The Kenya BioVax Institute, a recent addition to state agencies, is tasked with leading Kenya's ambition to achieve local manufacturing of human vaccines.

The institute aims to enable the local packaging of vaccines within the next four years, marking the initial phase toward establishing local manufacturing capabilities.

CS Nakhumicha urged legislators to prioritize the adequate allocation of resources to the Ministry of Health and the Semi-Autonomous Government Agencies.

"The Ministry of Health is also committed to delivering Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through various interventions put in place to ensure UHC is realized," she said.

"This is key in the decision-making process in health and impacts the equity, quality, and efficiency of healthcare and public health services," added CS Nakhumicha.