[ad_1]
The Food and Drug Authority (FDA) says Ghana could soon begin importing COVID-19 vaccines unpackaged in bulk for local businesses to fill into vials.
Delese Mimi Darko, executive director of the FDA, said this is likely to happen within six months.
He said that some indigenous companies are in the process of obtaining the necessary documentation and authorization to participate in the process.
President Akufo-Addo has indicated Ghana’s willingness to start manufacturing COVID-19 vaccines.
The government has established a committee to formulate a concrete plan to vaccine development and manufacturing in Ghana .
Although Ghana may not be in a good position to start research and short-term clinical trials, it said filling vials with the vaccine is more feasible today.
“We may not be at that end of the entire drug development life cycle, but we can at least start with filling,” Ms Darko told Citi News.
“There is a company that probably in the next six months could start filling the vaccine vials and labeling them. Get most of it from one of these manufacturers and then fill it out, do the tests and everything and then ship the vaccine, “he explained in more detail.
According to her, Ghana could have up to three companies involved in the filling process.
“We also found another company that is on the way and there is a third that is about to start… We will be well positioned to start filling and finishing vaccines in the next six months,” said Ms. Darko.
Ghana began its coronavirus vaccination campaign on March 2 with 600,000 doses of AstraZeneca that it received from the global COVAX vaccine exchange facility.
—Citinewsroom
