Health Minister Hala Zayed said on Monday that the coronavirus vaccines plant at the Holding Company for Biological Products and Vaccines (VACSERA) complex is planned to produce up to 24,000 packs per hour.
The plant is set to be the biggest in the Middle East and North Africa for the production of COVID-19 vaccines, Zayed said during a tour of the complex with Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly.
Zayed expects the plant to become a regional hub for the production of vaccines planned for export to African countries.
The factory is built over 6,000 square meters as part of the VACSERA complex – 10-fold the size of the plant – located in the industrial zone of Giza’s 6 October City, Zayed added.
The plant is expected to open by the end of the year, she noted.
The VACSERA complex will work with leading international companies to produce different types of vaccines. This cooperation aims to transfer the technologies of manufacturing seasonal flu and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines to Egypt, Zayed said.
Madbouly said the complex is a giant edifice that aims at producing eight vital types of vaccines, noting that Egypt had been previously producing these vaccines but their production was halted.
At a press conference following his tour in the complex, Madbouly said it will be ready by the end of November and will be operational after sealing an agreement with a company to run it.
The complex is set up on an area of 15 feddans and is meant to revive the local production of vaccines, which is an issue of national security to Egypt, the premier added.
Source: Al-Ahram Online
