On-Site mRNA Vaccine Printing VaxiPrint Deployed: Custom Vaccines Reach Remote Areas of Africa

VaxiPrint, jointly released by the World Health Organization and German biotech company CureVac, is a portable device that can print custom mRNA vaccines on site in remote areas. The device, the size of a medium suitcase, can synthesize mRNA vaccines against circulating pathogen gene sequences locally in areas lacking cold chains, delivering the first doses within four hours.

The operating principle of VaxiPrint is a modular mRNA synthesis pipeline. The device integrates three core steps: DNA template synthesis, in vitro mRNA transcription, and lipid nanoparticle encapsulation. All steps take place in sealed single-use consumables, avoiding cross-contamination. The operator only needs to input the pathogen's gene sequence (such as the spike protein gene of a SARS-CoV-2 variant), and the device automatically completes the end-to-end pipeline from sequence to vaccine.

The first deployments took place in Senegal, Rwanda, and Bangladesh. WHO selected these three countries because they represent different types of medical infrastructure challenges. Senegal is an arid region, Rwanda is a highland plateau, and Bangladesh is a flood-prone area. During the three-month pilot, VaxiPrint produced a total of about 20,000 custom vaccine doses, covering seven pathogens including influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and a local typhoid strain. Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, director of the WHO Regional Office for Africa, said this technology has far-reaching implications for pandemic response and local epidemic control.