The mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub

Subject : Science and Technology

Announced on 21 June 2021.
Objective: to build capacity in low- and middle-income countries to produce mRNA vaccines through a centre of excellence and training (the mRNA vaccine technology hub).
Located at Afrigen, Cape Town, South Africa.
Partners: The initiative is supported by WHO, the Medicines Patent Pool and the Act-Accelerator/COVAX.

How it will work:

The Hub will share technology and technical know-how with local producers.
WHO and partners will bring training and financial support to build the necessary human capital for production know-how, quality control and product regulation, and will assist where needed with the necessary licenses.
The Hub and partners create a global common good for the benefit of all by providing a range of services along the entire vaccine value chain.
Recipients will be able to contribute to the global effort to increase local vaccine production capacity, and may sign agreements with producers or develop vaccines locally.

What is mRNA Vaccine Technology?

mRNA vaccines use mRNA (messenger RNA) to teach our cells how to make a protein or a protein that triggers an immune response inside our bodies.
That immune response, which produces antibodies, is what protects us from getting infected if the real virus enters our bodies.
mRNA vaccines tricks the body into producing some of the viral proteins itself.
They work by using mRNA, or messenger RNA, which is the molecule that essentially puts DNA instructions into action. Inside a cell, mRNA is used as a template to build a protein.