Immunity to people and a booster to the economy

• Countries like Singapore are facing the challenge already and have taken precautionary measures with a concept of Test, Trace, Vaccination (TTV)
• Although it appears that many countries have sufficient national vaccine production capacities, this differs from reality
• Local pharma manufacturer to produce vaccines 

COVID-19 has changed our lives introducing “new norms” at least for the next decade. During good old days,

when we went to school and mingled with friends has now become a dream for our children. They are confined to their studies and to a computer or phone screen.
Physical activities have become bear minimum and the average health conditions are deteriorating and shortening the lifespan of the people. Thus the “Lock down” mentality has created new forms of psychological dilemma indirectly effecting the nation’s growth. 
Most of the global players and countries have identified these new trends and have adopted various concepts to face the new challenges. 

New norms are being implemented in most of the countries and immunity passports (Green passes) are introduced for travellers who have been vaccinated already. 
Countries like Singapore are facing the challenge already and have taken precautionary measures with a concept of Test, Trace, Vaccination (TTV).
Addressing the nation Prime minister of Singapore Lee stated that “In this new normal, the countries which are united, disciplined and (have) put in place sensible safeguards, will be able to reopen their economies, reconnect to the rest of the world (to) grow and prosper,” 

Hence, vaccination would play a major role in adopting the new norms the world over. 
Totalling the numbers, it is a fact that the world needs at least twice the number of vaccines in comparison its population to cover the entire world population.
Even with such a demand, the drawbacks for manufacturing vaccines are common to the countries with the presence of political instability, poor infrastructure, dubious regulatory frameworks thus prevent new investments in the industry.

"Thus the “Lock down” mentality has created new forms of psychological dilemma indirectly effecting the nation’s growth"

However, around the globe, several production plants have been manufacturing vaccines for decades. Most of these production plants still use immunological strategies that were developed decades ago. During the nineteenth century, scientists from United States, Great Britain, France, and Germany developed strategies for inactivating a whole bacterium and developed inactivated whole-cell vaccines against plague, typhoid, and cholera. Therefore, it is helpful to contemplate the past for having a great deal of forwarding gazing with new potential vaccine production strategies. For instance, the first influenza vaccine using attenuated virus was developed in 1936, while mRNA and viral-vector-based vaccine have been developed in more modern plants faster than ever before, as is the case of the latest COVID-19 vaccines.
Given the global scenario that the production of vaccines in smaller countries are limited. Some of the central / South American and Caribbean countries have extremely small markets, hence the production of biological medicines is not worth. 

The United States of America, Canada, Brazil and Mexico are considered the top vaccine manufacturers and have the infrastructure for biological manufacturing. 
Some Latin American countries are among the Top 20 ranked vaccine manufacturers with self-sufficiency up to about 72% in vaccine production. 

Rapid growth 

Nevertheless, over the past few decades, the world has experienced rapid growth in developing new vaccines, including recent novel coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine. It has added more than 200 new manufacturers to the production pipeline. 
At present, vaccine development and manufacturing, requires specialised facilities, a robust economic situation, and significant investments. 
Thus, Sri Lanka has got a rare opportunity which in reality could turn Lanka’s economy to great heights by making us the centralized vaccine producer in the region of south East Asia. Sri Lanka can even reach out to many markets including Africa.

The National Chamber of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers of Sri Lanka (NCPM) affiliated to the biggest international network in the pharma manufacturing industry through Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA), Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industry (BAPI) and the Czech Republic chambers which covers entire European Union countries was lobbying for opportunities in the world markets linking its members and the local pharma manufactures to be part of the global network.

"With no exceptions, there’re much controversy circulating in the local media these days relating to Sinovac production in Sri Lanka. Most we read is contradicting to one another and confuse the public as a whole"

As such the opportunity to enter to vaccine production was explored by “Kelun Life sciences” also the first ever saline manufacturer in Sri Lanka with Sinovac Biotech Ltd one of the largest vaccine producer in China. 
It was a great achievement to be able to convince a large player like Sinovac Biotech Ltd to step into Sri Lanka. Certainly, it was an advantage that the state of the art manufacturing facility in pallekele - Kandy of “Kelun Life sciences” was timely built to “plug and play”. 

Adding colour to this noble cause the state manufacturer of Pharmaceuticals SPMC joining hands for this landmark project securing the stake of the Government of Sri Lanka and the discussions are still underway. 
WHO inspectors are due to arrive in Sri Lanka shortly for the approval process while a foreign technical team finalizing and validating the latest machineries and equipment to start the production no sooner the relevant approvals are granted.

With no exceptions, there’re much controversy circulating in the local media these days relating to Sinovac production in Sri Lanka. Most we read is contradicting to one another and confuse the public as a whole. 
This culture of commenting on private businesses without facts are detrimental not only to the industry, but globally for the investors at a juncture the government is inviting investors for the proposed pharma zones developing in Anuradapura and Hambanthoa. 

Professional businessmen understand that there’re business ethics being practiced in genuine corporate world and even none-disclosure agreements are being signed to safeguard certain sensitive information shared. 
This is not a question about transparency and doesn’t mean that there’re malpractices taking place. But any individual with concerns, have the right to find out details specially when public funds are being used to purchase vaccines. In a way it’s fair by the public to suspect malpractices with the experiences they have had in the past, but discussing personal opinions beyond facts damage the image of our country and would block much needed genuine investments to the nation. 

Then there’re concerns raised whether Sinovac is being produced here in Sri Lanka or is packed locally. Information we have is that initially they will import bulk solution and pack it locally. 
It is the fact that Sri Lanka is having a similar state of the art dry-powder plant in existence complying with world standards. So the concept is nothing new and no difference to one another.
Pharmaceutical packing is also a unique part of the pharma industry which involves lots of expertise and technology and large investments. Specialised equipments are needed to process the filling while sensitive testing methodologies are adopted to maintain stability and quality of the end product. 
Hence, it’s much more scientific and complex than what it’s seems to be. 

Economic advantages with Significant value addition will retain a considerable amount of foreign exchange in the country in addition to the foreign exchange earnings by exports to the neighbouring countries and to the other continents taking the benefit of the strategic location of mother Lanka. The list goes on as the employment we generate will give a steady income to employees and  in return the earnings are circulating within the local economy, keeping all stake holders in the loop to prosper. The specialised knowledge shared and taught to the new generation is priceless. 

The new generation will have different scopes in their carriers and a steady future to look forward to. Being produced locally, we have ready accessibility of the fresh stocks at our reach and freight advantage could be considerable. And the door will be open to the international players to consider Sri Lanka as a contract manufacturing hub in the region provided our regulators positively look at this as a new vista. 

Although it appears that many countries have sufficient national vaccine production capacities, this differs significantly from reality. Hence Sri Lanka can see the bright light of opportunity end of the tunnel. 
Vaccinations aim to save millions of lives by generating artificial and life-saving immunological responses world over, let’s be part of that success story. And let’s make the Mother Lanka a Medicinally self-sufficient Nation. 

(The writer is President of the National Chamber of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (NCPM) of Sri Lanka