German pharmaceutical company BioNTech has begun construction of an COVID-19 vaccine plant in Rwanda. When completed, it will be the first mRNA vaccine plant in Africa.
The German pharmaceutical company BioNTech has broken ground for the production site of its COVID-19 vaccine in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali.
Thursday’s ceremony was attended by Rwandan President Paul Kagame and other African heads of state, as well as representatives from the European Union and the World Health Organization.
Speaking at the ceremony, Kagame called the breaking of ground a “milestone towards vaccine equity.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz participated in the ceremony by video link.
During his speech, Scholz said vaccines could mean the difference between life and death.
“Today, an essential foundation has been laid for many people to benefit from this blessing of vaccines in the future,” Scholz said. “And, if BioNTech’s projects are realized, Africa’s supply of urgently needed vaccines will improve significantly.”-www.dw.com
