Egypt’s VACSERA to manufacture Russian, Chinese Covid-19 vaccines

CAIRO – 26 April 2021: The Egyptian Holding Company for Biological Products and Vaccines (VACSERA) announce manufacturing both of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine along with China’s Sinovac.

According to Egypt’s health Ministry, this will turn Egypt into a hub for vaccines manufacturing after achieving local self-sufficiency.

Health Minster Hala Zayed said that as many as 40 million doses will be produced on an annual basis to meet domestic needs and export to Africa.

VACSERA will produce 100 million doses of Russia's Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine annually, Zayed pointed out.

Zayed also added that private companies will be allowed to manufacture the vaccines that are 90 percent safe and effective.

She stressed that only one in 10 persons is at the risk of blood clots that may be linked with certain coronavirus vaccines.

On April 21, VACSERA and Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac signed two agreements to manufacture the Sinovav vaccine.

VACSERA will manufacture the final product using the ready-made product provided by Sinovac.

Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli, Health Minister Hala Zayed and Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang attended the signing ceremony.

The first agreement is related to the transfer of technology required to manufacture the vaccine doses; a Cabinet statement read. Under the agreement, Sinovac will grant VACSERA a limited license to use the manufacturing technology.

VACSERA will manufacture the vaccine inside the company’s production facilities.

The second agreement stipulates that Sinovac secures for Egypt all technical information related to the company’s vaccine and provides technical assistance.

Technical assistance will include examining VACSERA’s factories and testing the final product and means of manufacturing.

Egypt has started its vaccination campaign in January, starting with the medical teams at quarantine hospitals, for being on top of priority groups in terms of vaccination.

Egypt has received Sinopharm and AstraZeneca vaccine doses. As on 1 April, Egypt received a shipment comprising 854,000 AstraZeneca vaccine doses, upping total number of the received vaccine to around 1.5 million doses.