IVI, Bloom Form Alliance to Boost Vaccine Equity, Health Security in Africa

In a bold step toward transforming Africa’s vaccine landscape, the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) and Bloom Public Health Group have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at deepening vaccine equity and strengthening health security across the continent.

The collaboration, sealed through a memorandum of understanding, seeks to merge IVI’s world-class scientific expertise with Bloom’s regional insight and operational depth to build a resilient and self-sustaining African vaccine ecosystem.

At the heart of this partnership lies a shared determination to bridge the gap between global vaccine innovation and local implementation. Both organisations will drive joint initiatives in vaccine research and development, regulatory system strengthening, local production capacity, and public health deployment — critical elements in Africa’s pursuit of health sovereignty.

“This partnership marks a significant step toward our shared vision of a world where safe and effective vaccines are accessible to everyone,” said Prof. Nicaise Ndembi, deputy director general and Africa tegional director of IVI. “By uniting IVI’s end-to-end vaccine development capabilities with Bloom’s deep local networks, we can co-create sustainable systems that directly improve health outcomes and health security for African nations.”

IVI, headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, has earned global recognition for its contributions to vaccine science, supporting the development and distribution of affordable vaccines for diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and COVID-19. Bloom Public Health Group is an African-based, African-led Public Health organization with field offices in 8 countries in Africa including Nigeria, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Cameroon and Lesotho

Prof. Chimezie Anyakora, CEO  of Bloom Public Health Group, described the partnership as a defining moment in Africa’s journey toward self-reliance in vaccine production.

“We are excited to join forces with IVI to empower African-led health solutions,” he said. “This collaboration is a direct catalyst toward the continent’s goal of manufacturing 60 percent of its required vaccines locally by 2040. By combining our strengths, we will not only ensure more equitable access to vaccines but also build the foundational capacity for Africa to control its own health destiny.”

Africa currently imports more than 99 percent of the vaccines it uses, a dependency that became starkly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic when global supply chains faltered. The IVI–Bloom alliance is designed to reverse this imbalance by nurturing indigenous expertise, supporting regulatory reforms, and driving the establishment of local manufacturing hubs.

Beyond vaccine production, the partnership will also strengthen regional preparedness for emerging health threats. By building stronger institutional frameworks, it aims to position African countries to respond swiftly to outbreaks and pandemics while reducing reliance on external interventions.

In a continent where access to life-saving vaccines often defines the line between vulnerability and resilience, the IVI–Bloom partnership signals a new dawn — one driven not by dependency, but by collaboration, innovation, and the belief that Africa can and must define its own public health future.