By Tim Cocks

JOHANNESBURG – Africa’s only COVID-19-certified vaccination facility, lauded as a leader in a region that has been left behind by Western handouts and slow progress, is at risk of closing after it received not one order.

South Africa’s Aspen Pharmacare (OTC:) negotiated a licensing deal in November to package and sell Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:)’s COVID-19 vaccine and distribute it across Africa.

The World Health Organization (WHO), called this deal “transformative”, referring to its efforts towards reducing stark inequalities when it comes to accessing COVID vaccines.

According to WHO statistics, only 66% of African adults are fully vaccinated. Aspen agreed to market an Aspen-branded COVID-19 vaccination, Aspenovax throughout Africa.

South Africa has already vaccinated 30 percent of its people. Now, the country is likely to face a fifth wave.

Stavros Nicolaou, senior Aspen director, said that “no orders have been received for Aspenovax.”

His comments were made about the COVID-19 vaccination plant at Gqeberha in Eastern Cape.

The distribution of vaccines has been a problem for many African countries. They have faced logistical problems, lack of staff and cold chains, as well as other issues such shortage of skills. A second problem is the fact that donors countries are now paying up, and Africa is well-supplied after being left in the cold.

Nicolaou stated that while the ultimate goal was to produce more vaccines, the company had resorted to these first volumes in order to purchase the time it needed to set up the operation.

At a time where health officials plan to vacinate 35% of the continent’s inhabitants, he stated, “If you don’t breach this short-term gap by orders, you cannot sustain these capacities in the continent.”

The African Union has set a goal to make 60% of vaccines in Africa by 2040. This is an increase from the current 1%. Several such plants have been established.

What chance does Aspen have of producing? Nicolaou said.