The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Holding Company for Biological Products and Vaccines (VACSERA) Heba Wali said that Egypt has produced the first million doses of China’s Sinovac vaccine.
During an interview with Sky News Arabia’s “Men al-Qahera” (From Cairo) program, Wali said the vaccines are now in the analysis and evaluation stage and are expected to be ready in August, along with the approval of the Egyptian Drug Authority.
Wali added that VACSERA aims to produce 80 million doses of the jab by the end of 2021, as directed by government officials.
She said that the World Health Organization is currently working to select a regional center in the Eastern Mediterranean to produce and distribute COVID-19 vaccines, pointing out that Egypt is one of the first countries with experience in producing vaccines.
Wali indicated that Sinovac’s clinical trials have begun for those over the age of 18 except pregnant women.
The Egyptian government announced at the beginning of June that 2.5 million citizens have received a vaccine against COVID-19, out of Egypt’s population of 102 million.
The Egyptian Authority for Unified Procurement, Supply, Medical Supply and Medical Technology Administration (UPA) announced in mid-June that it has secured over 46 million COVID-19 doses during the fiscal year 2020/2021.
The country aims to vaccinate 40 percent of its citizens by the end of 2021.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
