President William Ruto recently, at the AmChamBiz Summit, announced that moderna_tx will establish an mRNA facility in Nairobi. The facility will produce up to 500 million doses of vaccines each year.
Moderna Therapeutics is a biotechnology company that focuses on the discovery and development of messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and vaccines. The company’s approach is centered on utilizing the body’s natural cellular machinery to produce proteins that can treat or prevent diseases. Moderna’s lead product candidates include an mRNA vaccine for COVID-19, an mRNA therapeutic for cardiovascular disease, and an mRNA vaccine for the Zika virus. The company was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
As the Covid-19 pandemic continue to ravage countries worldwide, Kenya has not been left behind in the fight against the deadly virus. The government of Kenya has implemented several measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 since the virus was first identified in the country on March 13th, 2020. The country has experienced several waves of the virus with varying degrees of a fatality rate.
In the first wave of the virus, Kenyan authorities implemented measures such as social distancing, wearing of masks, and curfews, which helped to slow down the spread of the virus. These measures, coupled with regular testing and contact tracing, helped prevent the health system from being overwhelmed. However, the third wave of the virus, which started in March of 2021, saw an increase in the number of cases and fatalities as the virus mutated.
Kenya was not left behind in the race to acquire Covid-19 vaccines. The country started its vaccination campaign in March 2021, and as of July, Kenya had administered over 1.5 million doses of the vaccine. The government has been working tirelessly to ensure that the vaccine is widely available to all Kenyans. The Ministry of Health has been conducting vaccination drives in different parts of the country, and vaccination sites have been set up in strategic locations such as hospitals and stadiums.
The development of the Moderna mRNA facility in Nairobi is a significant boost to Kenya’s efforts in the fight against Covid-19. The facility will produce up to 500 million doses of vaccines each year, significantly increasing Kenya’s capacity to vaccinate its population. The facility is also expected to create job opportunities for Kenyans and boost the country’s economy.
The Covid-19 pandemic has presented several challenges to countries worldwide, including Kenya. However, the government of Kenya has implemented various measures to curb the spread of the virus and ensure that the vaccine is widely available to all Kenyans. The development of the Moderna mRNA facility in Nairobi is a significant boost to Kenya’s efforts in the fight against Covid-19, and it is a significant milestone in the country’s fight against the pandemic.
