Paris launch of US$1bn Africa vaccine fund draws criticism

Location sends wrong message about African ownership, says health advocacy group

The health advocacy group Amref Health Africa has criticised the decision to launch a funding mechanism for African vaccine manufacturing in Paris rather than on the African continent.

The decision to launch the US$1 billion African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA) in the French capital on 20 June “misses a crucial opportunity” to strengthen continental ownership of the initiative and to highlight African innovation, the Kenya-based organisation said on 7 June.