The leaders of European and African countries concluded in Brussels the work of the sixth joint summit, which, over two days, discussed increasing investments in the African continent, the issues of climate change and combating the epidemic.
The meeting announced the start of the production of Corona vaccines in the factories of 6 African countries, in addition to security cooperation between the two continents, and Europe's support for the government and private sectors.
Six African countries - including Egypt and Tunisia - were chosen to produce their own vaccines with messenger RNA technology, as the first beneficiary of a global program for the production of vaccines led by the World Health Organization.
The technology transfer project, which began last year, aims to help low- and middle-income countries manufacture this type of vaccine to the extent required, and in accordance with international standards.
The organization said that it chose these countries - namely: Egypt, Tunisia, South Africa, Kenya, Senegal and Nigeria - to allow the African continent, which receives vaccines in a very limited way, to produce its own vaccines to combat the pandemic and other diseases.
RNA is a cutting-edge technology used by companies such as Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna in the production of their COVID-19 vaccines.
The World Health Organization established its RNA technology transfer center after rich countries stockpiled vaccines and companies prioritized governments that could pay the highest price, putting low- and middle-income countries at the bottom of the waiting list for Covid-19 vaccines.
"More than any other event, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that relying on a handful of companies to provide global public goods is dangerous," said WHO Secretary-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
He added, "The best way to address health emergencies and achieve universal health coverage is to significantly increase the capacity of all regions to manufacture the health products they need."
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa praised the project, urging the Global Vaccine Distribution Mechanism Kovacs and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi) to purchase vaccines from local manufacturing centers in African countries.
"The lack of markets for vaccines made by the African continent is something that should interest us all," Ramaphosa said.
"Organizations like Kovacs and Jaffee should commit to buying vaccines from local manufacturers, rather than going outside these centers that are being established," he added.