Egypt aims for cooperation with Cuba on vaccine production

CAIRO – 18 April 2022: Acting Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar received Subday Cuban Ambassador to Egypt Tania Aguiar Fernandez to examine chances of cooperation in the field of vaccine production.

The minister and the ambassador also discussed areas of possible cooperation in the sectors of healthcare and scientific research. Abdel Ghaffar noted that all types of vaccines can be produced in Egypt by VACSERA factories.

The Ministry of Health and Population announced in February drafting a proposal to produce AstraZeneca anti-COVID-19 vaccine locally through VACSERA, which already produces Sinovac doses.

The announcement followed the acting minister's meeting with AstraZeneca regional director for the Middle East and Africa, Belin Inciso to discuss cooperation in the transfer of vaccine manufacturing technology. 

That is in light of Egypt's selection as one of the recipients of the mRNA technology used in the manufacturing of vaccines and other important medical drugs to confront many incurable diseases.

Abdel Ghaffar had announced earlier in February that Egypt produced over 30 million doses of Sinovac/VACSERA COVID-19 vaccine.

The minister also held a press conference in November to mark the launch of clinical trials of the Egypt-developed anti-COVID-19 vaccine dubbed "Covivax."

Egypt has started its vaccination campaign in January this year, during which around 25 million citizens have been vaccinated against the novel virus.

The country has received most types of vaccines including, Sinopharm, Sinovac, Sputnic V, AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson. It is also producing Sinovac doses.

Egypt also targets fellow African states and not just the local market. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated in January 2021 that anti-COVID-19 would be available on a large scale in Africa by 2023 given that most purchases are made by high-income countries.

Yet, as indicated on the WHO website, "64 higher income economies have joined the COVAX Facility, a global initiative that brings together governments and manufacturers to ensure eventual COVID-19 vaccines reach those in greatest need, whoever they are and wherever they live."