The National Veterinary Institute of Ethiopia is set to produce Rinderpest Vaccine
Rinderpest (RP) is highly infectious and fatal disease of Cattle that caused significant economic catastrophes in Africa. The disease has been eradicated from Africa 10 years ago. The National Veterinary Institute (NVI) significantly contributed for the eradication of the disease through production of quality vaccines for which it was recognized in March 2022 during the 10th anniversary marking its eradication. For the purpose of replenishing RP vaccine reserve for Africa that is required in case of possible resurgence of the disease, the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) selected NVI to produce the vaccine and the African Union PanAfrican Veterinary Vaccine Quality Control Center (AU-PANVAC) as Rinderpest Vaccine Holding Facility (RHF).
A team of experts designated by WOAH made site inspection of NVI’s Rinderpest vaccine production facility from Oct 18-21, 2022 to ensure its compliance with the set standards as regards to GMP, Biosafety and Biosecurity.
In a joint closing meeting of AU-PANVAC and NVI, the inspectors presented their preliminary findings on the RP vaccine production facility with constructive recommendations that can be addressed enabling the institute to meet the standards.
During the event, Dr Nick Nkwampa, the Director of AU-PANVAC and Dr Takele Abayneh, Director General of NVI, expressed their appreciation for the inspection team for the rigorous inspection and constructive recommendations made on both facilities. Dr Takele added, the recommendation is an invaluable input and serves as a benchmark to improve the institute’s status not only for RP vaccine production laboratory but also for other vaccine production facilities. On the occasion, NVI extended its gratitude to AU-PANVAC for its overall unreserved technical support that the center is providing to the institute.
NVI is the largest veterinary vaccine production facility within sub-saharan Africa that hosts AU-PANVAC within its premises since 2004.