Kenya joins International Vaccine Institute, to host body’s regional headquarters

Kenya has joined the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), a move President William Ruto hails as a step towards achieving self-reliance in vaccine production.

IVI is a non-profit intergovernmental organisation established in 1997 as an initiative by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to make vaccines accessible and affordable for all.

The organisation, now fully independent, is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, where President Ruto is attending the 2024 South Korea-Africa Summit alongside other African leaders.

Ruto on Wednesday said IVI committed to establish a country and project office in Nairobi, which will be the organisation’s regional headquarters.

“Increased vaccine availability will enhance the delivery of our primary healthcare and disease prevention,” said the president, noting that the availability of vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic exposed inequalities between African countries and Western nations.

“Making vaccines universally accessible to all our people, regardless of nationality and status, is an urgent imperative that we must respond to without hesitation.”

Kenya has been in discussion with IVI towards developing effective and affordable vaccines.

Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha last November met the vaccine body’s top leadership led by Director General Jerome Kim during the World Bio Summit in Seoul, during which Kenya committed to hosting IVI's continental office.

IVI has previously partnered with the Kenya BioVax Institute (KBI) for technology transfer and manufacturing support and the latest step is a culmination of efforts bringing together KBI, the Ministry of Health and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI).

KBI Is the state agency steering Kenya’s local human vaccine manufacturing dream as the country seeks to combat vaccine-preventable diseases during outbreaks, epidemics, or pandemics.