The African Union's (AU) special envoy on Covid has said that global pharmaceutical firms should license production of Covid-19 vaccines in Africa rather than just do piecemeal contract deals, Reuters reports.
AU coronavirus envoy Strive Masiyiwa was speaking a day after Pfizer and BioNTech announced a "fill and finish" deal with South Africa's Biovac Institute under which it will carry out the final stages of vaccine manufacturing where the product is processed and put into vials.
"We want to make clear to all suppliers ... if you want a long-term future with us now, you produce from Africa," Masiyiwa said.
