Hep B vaccine "Hepabig" available in markets, says ministry

CAIRO – 9 April 2017: The Ministry of Health announced that 100 vials of Hepabig, a Hepatitis B vaccine, have been pumped into markets for newborns whose mothers suffer from the liver infection.

Hepabig is available in markets, head of the ministry's Central Administration of Pharmaceutical Affairs Rasha Zeyada told Youm7, noting that an exceptional approval has been provided to the importing company to allow it to legally provide the local market with the vaccine.

The vaccine is given immediately after birth to newborns whose mothers suffer from Hepatitis B, as the infection is inevitably transferred to them after birth, Dr Mostafa Mohammadi, department director of the Holding Company for Biological Products and Vaccines (VACSERA), told

Youm7

.

Beside the vaccine, the babies targeted need to receive mandatory Hepatitis B vaccinations to prevent the virus from becoming chronic disease, he added.

Egypt launched Tour n' Cure program earlier this year that invites people who suffer from Hepatitis C around the world to be cured in Egypt with no waiting time and at lower prices.

Barcelona star Lionel Messi visited Egypt on February 21 to support the initiative. He called for putting an end to the waiting lists for hepatitis C patients.