Egypt signed two agreements, on Wednesday, to locally manufacture the Chinese Sinovac vaccine for the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly witnessed the signing ceremony between Egypt’s Holding Company for Biological Products and Vaccines (VACSERA), and the Chinese company Sinovac for Biological Products.
The signing comes as part of the exchange of experiences to support the capabilities of VACSERA, which is specialised in manufacturing vaccines in Egypt, in a way that contributes to limiting the spread of the virus.
Minister of Health and Population Hala Zayed said, “The first agreement concerns the manufacturing technology of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to which the Chinese company Sinovac grants VACSERA a limited licence to use manufacturing technology and technical knowledge.”
She added that this is for the purpose of manufacturing the local final product of the COVID-19 vaccine, at the manufacturing facilities of VACSERA.
This will take place as specified in the local manufacturing agreement, using the ready-made product of the COVID-19 vaccine provided by the Chinese company Sinovac.
The agreement also stipulated that the Chinese company Sinovac will provide VACSERA with all technical information related to the COVID-19 vaccine, and provide technical assistance.
This includes inspecting the manufacturing facilities of VACSERA, and manufacturing the local end product using the ready-made product provided by Sinovac.
In addition to testing the local end product, manufacturing methods and technical processes used, as well as equipment, tools or machines, repair and maintenance of Vacera’s manufacturing facilities, as well as quality management and quality control.
The minister added, “The second agreement is related to the local manufacture of the COVID-19 vaccine, and provides for the Chinese company to grant a permit to VACSERA to refill, pack, and manufacture the local final product of the COVID-19 vaccine in the private facilities of VACSERA.”
VACSERA obtains regulatory approvals, manufacturing technology and technical know-how to use the ready-to-fill product provided by Sinovac.
The agreement stipulates that VACSERA would equip its existing facilities, or construct, build and equip new facilities to serve as manufacturing areas.
This is with the establishment of an effective quality management system for each step of production steps and activities.
