MEDIA ADVISORY: WHO Director-General and Belgian Minister of Development Cooperation high-level visit to mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub in South Africa, 11-12 February

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Wednesday, 9 February 2022

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHO Director-General and Belgian Minister of Development Cooperation high-level visit to mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub in South Africa, 11-12 February

WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, will join Belgium’s Minister of Development Cooperation, Ms Meryame Kitir, on a high-level visit to Cape Town, South Africa, during 11-12 February, 2022, to visit the mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub and other facilities playing critical roles in the response to COVID-19 and protection of public health.

Dr Tedros and Minister Kitir will be hosted by South Africa's Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, and joined by the Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Mr Buti Manamela.

They will visit facilities including Afrigen Biologics & Vaccines, the Biomedical Research Institute based at Stellenbosch University's Tygerburg Medical Campus, and Biovac, among others.

Media opportunities

Site visits: Members of the media will be able to accompany the delegation during site visits. For more information on access, please contact: Veronica Mohapeloa at +27 (0) 83 400 5750 and [email protected], or Thabang Setlhare at +27 (0) 72 659 9690 and [email protected]

Photos/video: Due to limited access, pool photographs and video will be offered from the visit to the Afrigen facility on 11 February. Photo and video opportunities will be available at other locations.

Press conference: On 11 February at 4pm (South Africa time), a press conference will be held at the Biomedical Research Institute based at Stellenbosch University's Tygerburg Medical Campus. Members of the media can join onsite and participate remotely by using at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYqf-CrqTgsGtcV6d5KRUY-2PntmDaIclEJ

For media attendance at the press conference, please RSVP with Veronica Mohapeloa at +27 (0) 83 400 5750 and [email protected], or Thabang Setlhare at +27 (0) 72 659 9690 and [email protected]
The press conference can also be watched online at https://youtu.be/EFfuzDQwQzQ

More information:

The mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub https://www.who.int/initiatives/the-mrna-vaccine-technology-transfer-hub

FAQ - The mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub: https://bit.ly/3rxpI2J

The WHO announced last year that South Africa will host Africa's first COVID mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub, an initiative is fully supported by the Government of South Africa, and numerous other countries and health partners. South Africa was chosen as the host of the hub following a recommendation by the WHO's Product Development for Vaccines Advisory Committee. The selection was based on the country’s available infrastructure and research platforms, scientific excellence, experience in technology transfer, and a strong public-private partnership consortium that straddles the full vaccine research, development and manufacturing value chain and.

Media contacts:

Media contacts at the South African Department of Science and Innovation:

Veronica Mohapeloa, +27 (0) 83 400 5750, [email protected]

Thabang Setlhare, +27 (0) 72 659 9690, [email protected]

WHO

WHO Media inquiries

Telephone: +41 22 791 2222

Email: [email protected]

Onsite during the visit:

Paul Garwood, +41796037294, [email protected]

Eugene Mahlehla, +27 513301668, [email protected]

Media contacts at the Belgium Ministry of Development Cooperation:

Catherine De Bock, +32 477 89 09 29, [email protected]

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