Egypt receives 1st batch of raw materials to produce 2 million Sinovac doses

CAIRO – 21 May 2021: Cairo has received the first batch of raw materials required for Egypt to locally produce two million doses of the Chinese Sinovac vaccine, the health ministry said.

The batch included 1,400 liters of raw materials as part of the agreement earlier signed between Sinovac and the Egyptian Holding Company for Biological Products and Vaccines (VACSERA).

The ministry said the country is expected to produce 40 million Sinovac doses in the first year, noting that Egypt is the first African country to produce coronavirus vaccine doses.

The batch received in the Cairo International Airport also included 500,000 doses of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine.

Preventive health officials in Egypt have affirmed that vaccines will likely be of a short-term effect, and therefore citizens may have to take the vaccine several times over the life course.

That’s why the country set plans to locally produce Sinovac and also the Russian Sputnik V through Egyptian companies.

Also, Egypt plans to become a hub for exportation of coronavirus vaccine doses to African nations.

The country has started its vaccination campaign in January and so far vaccinated about 1.5 million citizens nationwide.

The company has allocated the website (https://egcovac.mohp.gov.eg/#/home) for people living in Egypt over 18 years old to register to receive the vaccine.

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Prime Minister Mostafa Madboly both received the vaccine last month. Health Minister Hala Zayed received the Sinopharm vaccine during clinical trials last year.