Egypt, WHO discuss approval for domestically produced COVID-19 vaccine

Egypt, WHO discuss approval for domestically produced COVID-19 vaccine

Egypt's Minister of Health and Population Hala Zayed met, on Wednesday, with the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom, to discuss approval for a domestically produced vaccine against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). During the meeting, Zayed reviewed the Egyptian efforts to manufacture the COVID-19 vaccine, through the contract with the Chinese company Sinovac. The meeting came during Zayed's visit to the Swiss capital, Geneva, to discuss and enhance ways of cooperation in the health field with a number of international organisations. She expressed Egypt's desire for the WHO's support for a COVID-19 vaccine produced in the country. Egypt is currently manufacturing 2 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine through production lines belonging to Egyptian pharmaceutical company VACSERA. This is part of a wider deal with the Chinese company to produce a total of 40 million doses by the end of 2021 in Egypt. Zayed applauded the WHO's efforts to support the health system in Egypt, adding that the WHO's humanity had saved the lives of many people in the world during the COVID-19 epidemic. The two sides discussed the international treaty on pandemic prevention and preparedness which will be drafted during the coming months. The treaty will