The Egyptian Vaccine Manufacturers Alliance was launched this week to implement a national strategy to localise vaccine manufacturing from 2024 to 2030.

The alliance is part of a 2024 cabinet decision to localise the production of essential vaccines to ensure national health security. It also seeks to enable Egypt to contribute to regional and international markets, particularly Africa.

The alliance includes several leading local companies — the Egyptian Vaccine City, the Egyptian Holding Company for Biopharmaceuticals and Vaccines (VACSERA), vaccine manufacturer GennVax, Biogeneric Pharma, the Egyptian Pharmaceutical City, and EVA Pharma — with contributions from over nine multinational pharmaceutical companies transferring manufacturing technology and possessing high expertise in vaccine production. The alliance is under the auspices of the Ministry of Health and Population, the Egyptian Unified Procurement Authority, the Medical Technology and Supply Authority, and the Egyptian Drug Authority.

Bahaaeddin Zidan, chairman of the Egyptian Unified Procurement Authority and the Medical Technology and Supply Authority, announced in a statement that Egypt was selected one of the first African countries to receive mRNA vaccine production technology from the World Health Organisation (WHO), reflecting Egypt’s readiness to develop advanced pharmaceutical biotechnology industries. The national strategy aims not only to meet domestic needs, estimated at 75 million doses annually, but also to increase exports by 50 per cent by 2040 to meet the growing demand in Africa which requires 1.8 billion vaccine doses annually by 2040.

Hossam Abdel-Ghaffar, the spokesman for the Ministry of Health and Population, told Al-Ahram Weekly that the strategy includes short-term goals, such as localising 50 per cent of vaccine production. It also includes medium-term goals, such as localising 75 per cent of vaccine production by 2035, along with developing research partnerships and approving four additional vaccines.

The long-term goals include achieving self-sufficiency by 2040, enhancing Egypt’s position as a regional hub for vaccine production and export, and increasing exports by 50 per cent while opening new markets.

Currently, Egypt produces a significant portion of the vaccines it needs although imports still account for a large part of its vaccine supply. “It is estimated that about 30-40 per cent of the vaccines needed are produced domestically, with the rest imported from other countries. The government is working to gradually reduce this dependency,” Abdel-Ghaffar said.

“Egypt will have 16 production lines by 2027, with a total capacity of 700 million vaccine doses annually. Additionally, 21 technology transfer agreements have been signed, covering 18 essential vaccines, ensuring national vaccination needs are met and achieving self-sufficiency,” Abdel-Ghaffar said, adding that Egypt will be home to 20 per cent of the world’s vaccine factories by the end of the project. The vaccines, according to Abdel-Ghaffar, are for polio, hepatitis, influenza, and most notably Covid-19.

Amr Qandil, deputy minister of health and population, told the Weekly that localising vaccine manufacturing requires significant investments in technology transfer and ensuring production quality according to international standards. The government, Qandil said, is committed to removing all obstacles to secure a better health future for Egyptians. Qandil said the main challenges include the need to produce large quantities of vaccines to ensure economic feasibility which requires long-term contracts and sustainable investments from manufacturers. Additionally, he said technology transfer from leading global companies is complex and costly, requiring strong partnerships with these companies to ensure the transfer of technical knowledge and training for local personnel.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 5 December, 2024 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly