South Africa hails new COVID jab plant in fight for self-reliance

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Patrick Soon-Shiong cut a ribbon, while Premier of the Western Cape Alan Winde looks on, during the launch of NantSA, a future vaccine manufacturing facility in Cape Town [File: Shelley Christians/Reuters]

Cape Town, South Africa – On January 19, at a cavernous warehouse on an industrial estate in Cape Town, South African-born billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong launched a project he believes will be a considerable step in Africa’s struggle for vaccine equity.

Within a year it is hoped that the empty building will be a hive of industry with a workforce of up to 600 people intent on producing the first entirely African-made COVID-19 vaccine.