"Asia-Pacific region has firmly established itself as a global vaccine export powerhouse"

Suchitra Ella, Managing Director of Bharat Biotech, India delves into the evolution of vaccine manufacturing capacity in the Asia-Pacific region over the past decade and explores key lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic that will shape the future of vaccine production and distribution. Edited excerpts:

- Ayesha Siddiqui

How has vaccine manufacturing capacity evolved in the Asia-Pacific region over the past decade?

Over the past decade, vaccine manufacturing capacity in the Asia-Pacific region has expanded significantly, driven by rising demand, strategic investments, and public health priorities. The region now produces 46 per cent of global preventive vaccines and 31 per cent of therapeutic vaccines, according to industry estimates. India has led this transformation, with companies like Bharat Biotech scaling up operations to produce billions of doses annually across vaccines for Rotavirus, Typhoid, Cholera, Hepatitis, Rabies, Japanese Encephalitis and more. Indian manufacturers now supply over 60 per cent of the global vaccine demand for national immunisation programmes. China, backed by substantial state investment and export-led policies, has emerged as another major player, contributing significantly to the global COVID-19 vaccine supply. Meanwhile, South Korea has positioned itself as a premier contract manufacturer, especially in advanced platforms like mRNA and recombinant technologies. The COVID-19 pandemic acted as a powerful catalyst, pushing governments and industries to enhance agility, invest in R&D, and build resilient supply chains. As a result, the Asia-Pacific region is now a critical hub for global vaccine supply—technologically advanced, increasingly self-reliant, and better prepared to tackle future public health crises.

Which Asia-Pacific countries are the biggest vaccine exporters, and what are their key markets?