Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make an estimate of the impact on (a) mortality and (b) serious illness rates from covid-19 across Africa over the next five years if MRNA vaccine substance manufacturing capacity in Africa is supported through technology transfer to open within the next 18 months.

It is not possible to make long-term estimates of the impact of COVID-19 in any region, given uncertainties over the future course of the pandemic, including future variants and their impact. However, we fully recognise the importance of COVID-19 vaccination on health outcomes in Africa and on the UK health security, and that no-one is safe until everyone is safe. Increasing vaccine coverage in Africa is one of our top priorities. Our £548 million support to COVAX, donation of 12 million surplus doses to Africa, £20 million support to Africa Union's COVID-19 Response Fund demonstrate our commitment.

The UK has provided technical support to develop business cases for vaccine production in South Africa, Senegal and Morocco. We are also supporting and engaging with the new 'Partnership for African Vaccine Manufacturing' initiative to develop a roadmap for African vaccine manufacturing. Vaccine supplies are improving in Africa, but greater challenges exist with delivery mechanisms and facilitating vaccine uptake. The UK is working with African countries to address those bottlenecks. We have seen voluntary licensing and technology transfer partnerships make real, positive impacts on vaccine delivery, and continue to be open to initiatives that have a positive impact on improving regional vaccine production and their distribution.