Challenges implementing technology transfer as a viable pathway for equitable vaccine production and access: A case study of the mRNA vaccine hub in South Africa
In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been renewed calls for more equitable vaccine access. These calls have in turn resulted in interventions to increase vaccine manufacturing capacity as one of the key interventions to address global vaccine access. However, skill gaps in manufacturing...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Global Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2025.2504698 |
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| author | Omowamiwa Kolawole Caroline Ncube Jeremy de Beer |
| author_facet | Omowamiwa Kolawole Caroline Ncube Jeremy de Beer |
| author_sort | Omowamiwa Kolawole |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been renewed calls for more equitable vaccine access. These calls have in turn resulted in interventions to increase vaccine manufacturing capacity as one of the key interventions to address global vaccine access. However, skill gaps in manufacturing capacity point out the critical need for technology transfer and more open science. The World Health Organization-instituted mRNA hub in South Africa has been positioned as an initiative to facilitate technology transfer for building and leveraging vaccine manufacturing capacity in low and middle income countries. Our case study examines the activities of the mRNA vaccine hub, highlighting challenges that can stifle the long-term goals of equitable vaccine production if left unaddressed. The findings suggest that for technology transfer to be effective, there must be sufficient institutional commitment, adequate funding that is fit for purpose, clear terms and an enabling legal and socio-economic environment. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6f59d3ffc2a74339bb67a57f802e82b6 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1744-1692 1744-1706 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-6f59d3ffc2a74339bb67a57f802e82b62025-08-20T03:48:28ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Public Health1744-16921744-17062025-12-0120110.1080/17441692.2025.2504698Challenges implementing technology transfer as a viable pathway for equitable vaccine production and access: A case study of the mRNA vaccine hub in South AfricaOmowamiwa Kolawole0Caroline Ncube1Jeremy de Beer2Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, CanadaDepartment of Commercial Law, Faculty of Law, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South AfricaFaculty of Law, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, CanadaIn the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been renewed calls for more equitable vaccine access. These calls have in turn resulted in interventions to increase vaccine manufacturing capacity as one of the key interventions to address global vaccine access. However, skill gaps in manufacturing capacity point out the critical need for technology transfer and more open science. The World Health Organization-instituted mRNA hub in South Africa has been positioned as an initiative to facilitate technology transfer for building and leveraging vaccine manufacturing capacity in low and middle income countries. Our case study examines the activities of the mRNA vaccine hub, highlighting challenges that can stifle the long-term goals of equitable vaccine production if left unaddressed. The findings suggest that for technology transfer to be effective, there must be sufficient institutional commitment, adequate funding that is fit for purpose, clear terms and an enabling legal and socio-economic environment.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2025.2504698Technology transfervaccine manufacturingPandemic Agreementdrug patentsopen science |
| spellingShingle | Omowamiwa Kolawole Caroline Ncube Jeremy de Beer Challenges implementing technology transfer as a viable pathway for equitable vaccine production and access: A case study of the mRNA vaccine hub in South Africa Global Public Health Technology transfer vaccine manufacturing Pandemic Agreement drug patents open science |
| title | Challenges implementing technology transfer as a viable pathway for equitable vaccine production and access: A case study of the mRNA vaccine hub in South Africa |
| title_full | Challenges implementing technology transfer as a viable pathway for equitable vaccine production and access: A case study of the mRNA vaccine hub in South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Challenges implementing technology transfer as a viable pathway for equitable vaccine production and access: A case study of the mRNA vaccine hub in South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Challenges implementing technology transfer as a viable pathway for equitable vaccine production and access: A case study of the mRNA vaccine hub in South Africa |
| title_short | Challenges implementing technology transfer as a viable pathway for equitable vaccine production and access: A case study of the mRNA vaccine hub in South Africa |
| title_sort | challenges implementing technology transfer as a viable pathway for equitable vaccine production and access a case study of the mrna vaccine hub in south africa |
| topic | Technology transfer vaccine manufacturing Pandemic Agreement drug patents open science |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2025.2504698 |
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