Minister of Health Hala Zayed has visited the Holding Company for Biological Products and Vaccines (Vacsera), to follow up on the company’s readiness to start production of the Chinese vaccine for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
During the visit on Saturday, the minister met with the company’s chairperson, Dr Heba Wally.
Later on Saturday, the Ministry of Health reported 511 new coronavirus cases, and 40 new deaths. The country’s total number of confirmed cases reached 91,583 cases, with 4,558 fatalities. A total of 32,903 cases have recovered and been discharged from quarantine facilities at hospitals.
In a statement, Ministry of Health Spokesperson Khaled Mogahed said the Vacsera meeting addressed the capabilities of the company’s factories to manufacture the Chinese vaccine. This would be subject to it being proven as an effective treatment for the coronavirus.
Zayed also reviewed the company’s preparations for the vaccine’s production and its requirements, needs and challenges.
According to Mogahed, the minister discussed the quantity of required doses and production capacity of the vaccine, following the completion of clinical trials. This would ensure that both local demands are met, and exports of the vaccine can be made to African nations.
Mogahed pointed out that the minister stressed the importance of increasing the company’s production capacity and restructuring of its production lines. The meeting also addressed the possibility of partnering with foreign companies in the production process.
In a meeting with China’s ambassador to Egypt, Liao Liqiang on Monday last week, Zayed discussed Egypt’s participation in conducting experiments to manufacture coronavirus vaccines in collaboration with a Chinese company.
During the meeting, the two parties agreed that Egypt would be an Africa centre for producing effective Chinese coronavirus vaccines.
