Health Minister Ahmed Emad el Din on Sunday witnessed the signing ceremony of a contract to establish the first plant to produce H5N1 vaccines in the Sixth of October City.

The contract was signed by the Holding Company For Biological Products and Vaccines (VACSERA) and an Indian company specialized in the establishment of pharmaceutical plants.

A statement by the Health Ministry said the plant would be established within 18 months and is planned in its first first stage to produce 400 million doses per year and up to 800 million in the subsequent stages.

The plant is planned to produce 18 other vaccines related to birds.

It will cost some $19 million, provided by the Islamic Development Bank ($15 million) and a Saudi loan fund ($4.5 million).

Source: MENA