Algeria has started producing the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Chinese firm, Sinovac, with production expected to be eight million doses a month.
Prime Minister Aimene Benabderrahmane, who attended the launch of the production process at a factory in the eastern city of Constantine, described it as a “big achievement”.
Production could be doubled in the North African nation if needed, officials noted.
“Algeria… aims to achieve other projects of this kind,” Benabderrahmane said, applauding the country’s pharmaceutical industry.
Lotfi Djamel Benbahmed, Algeria’s minister for the pharmaceutical industry, disclosed that the country plans to export the vaccines.
He said Saidal, the firm making the jabs, was so far the only African company to be licenced to produce the jab.
Algeria plans to vaccinate 70 percent of its 44 million population by the end of the year.
