Kenya has officially joined the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), a move that President William Ruto praises as a significant step toward achieving self-reliance in vaccine production. IVI is a non-profit intergovernmental organization, established in 1997 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to ensure vaccines are accessible and affordable worldwide. Now independent, IVI is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, where President Ruto is attending the 2024 South Korea-Africa Summit alongside other African leaders.
President Ruto announced on Wednesday that IVI is committed to establishing a country and project office in Nairobi, which will serve as the organization’s regional headquarters. “Increased vaccine availability will enhance the delivery of our primary healthcare and disease prevention,” said Ruto, highlighting the benefits of this partnership.
Kenya has been in ongoing discussions with IVI to develop effective and affordable vaccines. Last November, Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha met with IVI’s top leadership, including Director General Jerome Kim, during the World Bio Summit in Seoul. During this meeting, Kenya committed to hosting IVI’s continental office.
IVI has previously collaborated with the Kenya BioVax Institute (KBI) for technology transfer and manufacturing support. KBI is the state agency leading Kenya’s initiative to locally produce human vaccines, aiming to combat vaccine-preventable diseases during outbreaks, epidemics, or pandemics.
This partnership marks a crucial milestone in Kenya’s efforts to enhance its healthcare system and disease prevention capabilities through increased vaccine availability and self-reliant production.
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