Whilst access to essential health products (EHPs) including medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, therapeutics and others, has been a global concern for decades, this was heightened by shortages and high prices essential for the management of COVID-19 patients during the pandemic. This put severe pressure on the ability of the region’s health systems to provide full and affordable access to quality health care. This policy brief draws attention to the Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM) launched in 2021 and tracks progress made thus far in the implementation of the essential pillars of the programme