Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has approved the signing of a partnership deal between the higher education and scientific research ministry, the agriculture ministry, and Eva Pharma, Egypt's second oldest pharmaceutical company, to manufacture a coronavirus vaccine. The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Egyptian cabinet, without providing further details on the type of the anticipated vaccine. The cabinet statement also said that the step is part of the country's endeavours to protect citizens against the pandemic, expand national scientific capabilities, and upgrade the pharmaceutical industry. The Egyptian Drug Authority has approved the emergency use of five vaccines: Sinopharm, AstraZeneca, Sinovac, CoronaVac and Covishield-AstraZeneca. Egypt seeks to turn into a hub for manufacturing coronavirus vaccines for Africa as it has already started the first stages of manufacturing the Chinese-made Sinovac vaccine through the oldest Egyptian vaccine maker VACSERA. VACSERA is planning to manufacture over 40 million doses by the end of 2021 under a deal inked in April with the Sinovac biopharmaceutical company. The country aims to cover its own vaccination needs and export extra doses to Africa, Health Minister Hala Zayed said after signing the deal. Egypt is also in talks to locally manufacture the AstraZeneca vaccine at VACSERA's factories in 6 October City, according to Zayed.
