Egypt stressed the importance of increasing the amount of COVID-19 vaccines directed to African countries.
Health Minister Hala Zayed underscored Egypt’s keenness to adopt an integrated and advanced system to meet the needs of the national market and neighboring countries for vital drugs and medical supplies during the pandemic.
Egypt will soon produce the first batch of the Chinese Sinovac coronavirus vaccine locally, she added.
Her remarks were made on Tuesday during her participation in the virtual event, dubbed “The African Medicines Agency Vision and Strategy for the African Continent.”
Zayed affirmed the need to “ensure African countries have access to vaccines and medicines.”
“Transferring technology and exchanging experiences in the health sector, maintaining a healthy environment and combating drug smuggling across the African continent,” are among the ministry’s targets.
The ministry aims to vaccinate 40% of its population of just over 100 million by the end of 2021.
Zayed also highlighted during a cabinet session chaired by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly on Wednesday the launch of more COVID-19 vaccination centers, taking the total to 429 throughout the country.
