The impact and necessity of regional vaccine manufacturing ecosystems
 

The traditional "hub-and-spoke" model relies on a handful of centralized production facilities, primarily located in high-income countries. This model proved to be slow and inflexible during the pandemic, leaving low- and middle-income countries struggling to access life-saving vaccines. Regional manufacturing networks offer a promising alternative. By pooling resources and establishing production centers within a defined region, these networks can ensure a faster response to pandemics, improved vaccine equity for all countries involved, and even stimulate regional economic growth through job creation and development in related sectors. 

The report outlines a comprehensive framework, the RVMC Framework, to guide regions in establishing sustainable vaccine manufacturing ecosystems. This framework emphasizes eight key pillars that work together to create a robust and long-term solution.

Equitable access to vaccines would be a significant step toward achieving health equity. Among the many lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic, a particularly heartbreaking one was that inequitable access to vaccines—in Africa, some parts of South America, and many rural areas worldwide—resulted in countless unnecessary deaths. Needless to say, the world must be prepared next time.

Just as Deloitte assisted in developing this report of the RVMC for the World Economic Forum, we will continue working to realize our vision that true health equity means that no region or country should be without life-saving vaccines. Our hope is that what began as an effort to provide regional self-sufficiency for pandemic response scenarios can evolve to improve health outcomes more generally, accelerate the availability and acceptance of new technology platforms, and, ultimately, lay the foundation for sustainable economic development.