Egypt free from double-mutant Covid variant: Minister

Egypt free from double-mutant Covid variant: Minister

CAIRO – 9 May 2021: Egypt is free from the double-mutant Covid variant (B1617), announced Minister of Health Hala Zayed in a press conference on Sunday, adding that the country will produce 2 million doses of anti-Coronavirus vaccines by the end of May. The conference was held at the headquarters of the state-owned company for Biological Products and Vaccines "Vacsera,” after she was updated on final preparations for the start of producing the Chinese Coronavirus vaccine (Sinovac) in Egypt. The Minister said that there is a slight increase in the number of daily cases in Egypt, noting that Egypt will receive the first shipment of the active pharmaceutical ingredient for producing "Sinovac" vaccines on May 18, 2021. When the company completes the production of the doses, they will be subjected to tests and analysis by the Egyptian Drug Authority laboratories to make sure of the product’s effectiveness, she said, adding that Egypt will become a center for vaccine production for African countries. In April 2021, the VACSERA and Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac signed two agreements to manufacture the Sinovav vaccine. VACSERA will manufacture the final product using the ready-made product provided by Sinovac.