Kenya’s plan to locally manufacture human vaccines and diagnostics has continued to take shape.

The development was announced by Health CS Susan Wafula after she met the International Vaccines Institute (IVI) Director General Jerome Kim at Afya house on Monday.

Also present during the meeting were Kenya Biovax Institute CEO Michael Lusiola and Acting Director General for HealthPatrick Amoth.

"The government has invested between Sh1.5 and Sh2 billion in the Biovax project whose focus is to manufacture Covid-19 vaccines and other vaccines," Wafula said.

Key on the agenda was discussing ways that both the IVI and Kenya's Biovax Institute will work together in ensuring Biovax's mandate is achieved.

The areas explored included research, partnerships in product development, capacity building of the local workforce through training, technical assistance and technology transfers.

The meeting comes months after Kenya formally presented her letter of intent to join the International Vaccine Institute as a state party in Seul, South Korea in November 2022.

The letter was presented by Foreign Affairs CS Alfred Mutua and witnessed by President William Ruto and CS Wafula.

The Kenya Biovax Institute, a state cooperation mandated with the manufacturing of specialised health products including vaccines and therapeutics is set to kick-start the manufacturing process in earnest.

Kenya is preparing to set up a Moderna manufacturing facility in the country, the first in Africa to produce messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines, including Covid-19 shots.

The decision to fast-track the development of a human vaccine facility in the country was prompted by the recent shortage of covid-19 vaccines that slowed ongoing mass vaccination drives especially across many African countries.

The plant is projected to be completed in 2024.

Once completed, the manufacturing facility in Kenya will be the first in Africa to produce messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines, including Covid-19 shots.

The company anticipates investing up to Sh60 billion shillings in the new facility which will focus on drug substance manufacturing on the continent of Africa for the continent of Africa, and could also be expanded to include fill-finish and packaging capabilities at the site.