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GSK is shutting down its Dresden, Germany vaccine factory by summer 2027, putting 641 jobs at risk. The plant currently produces traditional egg-based flu and hepatitis vaccines. The move signals a broader industry shift toward mRNA-based vaccine technology, with GSK advancing its mRNA flu vaccine candidate to a late-stage trial this month.
GSK is closing its Dresden, Germany vaccine manufacturing facility by summer 2027, a move that puts 641 jobs at risk and signals a pivotal shift in how flu vaccines are made. The plant currently produces traditional egg-based flu and hepatitis shots — a decades-old technology that may soon be eclipsed by newer mRNA-based alternatives.
German trade union IGBCE and the plant's works council are pushing back, warning that the closure could strip the eastern state of Saxony of critical pharmaceutical manufacturing expertise and highly skilled industrial jobs.
The timing is notable: GSK announced just days earlier that it's advancing its mRNA-based seasonal flu vaccine to a late-stage trial this month, after mid-stage data showed it produced stronger immune responses than both standard- and high-dose approved shots in younger and older adults.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: This closure reflects a broader industry reckoning — as mRNA technology matures, legacy vaccine manufacturing infrastructure faces obsolescence. For public health, the transition raises questions about supply chain resilience and the pace at which next-generation vaccines can fill the gap.
