Egypt produced one million doses of the locally manufactured COVID-19 vaccine, while the government confirmed it aims at vaccinating 40 percent of the population by the end of 2021.
Egypt’s Prime Minster Mostafa Madbouly said Monday that one million Sinovac doses have been produced so far, pointing out that the current capacity of the factory reached 300,000 doses per shift.
He said the challenge the government faces is receiving the raw materials necessary for producing the vaccine, but Egypt discussed with the Chinese side, doubling the amount of the raw materials to be delivered to it.
Madbouli said an agreement was reached with the company's head office to supply Egypt with the materials needed for manufacturing 80 million doses enough for vaccinating 40 million citizens.
“Under the directives of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, the government seeks to produce the largest number of COVID-19 vaccines in order to protect its citizens,” the PM said.
It seems the pandemic would not come to an end any time soon, the PM said during a joint press conference with Health Minister Hala Zayed.
The minister confirmed that Egypt is considered one of the first countries in the world to start producing the COVID-19 vaccine.
“This step allows Egypt to become a pioneer in the production of vaccines and later to start exporting them to Africa and other regional states, after achieving self-sufficiency,” she said.
The daily COVID-19 infection rate in the country has continued to decline.
Egypt said on Monday it recorded 179 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, upping the total number of confirmed cases since the outbreak in the country began to 282,082.
Ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed said 22 patients died from the virus, raising the death toll to 16,264.
On Sunday, Cabinet spokesman Nader Saad, said Egypt aims at vaccinating 40 percent of the population by the end of 2021, and that it will begin using the locally manufactured vaccines starting August.
