Egypt Marks Landmark Milestone in Vaccine Localization with Launch of PCV13

Egypt Marks Landmark Milestone in Vaccine Localization with Launch of PCV13

On November 18th, under the esteemed patronage of H.E. Prof. Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister of Health and Population, VBC Vaccines and Biotechnology City (VBC) proudly hosted the landmark event “Contribution on National Vision for Vaccines Localization”.

The gathering coincided with World Pneumonia Day, underscoring Egypt’s national commitment to combating one of the leading causes of preventable child mortality worldwide.

The event was chaired by H.E. Prof. Dr. Mohamed Awad Tag El-Din, Advisor to the President on Health and Prevention Affairs, and led by Prof. Dr. Magdy El-Sayed, CEO of VBC. It marked the upcoming launch of Egypt’s first locally produced PCV13 vaccine, a breakthrough in strengthening vaccine security and advancing public health across the region.

Distinguished Attendance

The event brought together high-level representatives from national and international health authorities, including:

• Unified Procurement Authority (UPA): Dr. Hisham Stait (Chairman), Dr. Hesham Badr (Vice Chairman)
• Ministry of Health & Population (MOH): Dr. Amr Kandil (Deputy Minister) & Preventive Medicine Leadership Team
• Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA): Dr. Tamer El-Hossieny (Vice Chairman)
• World Health Organization (WHO): Dr. Ni’ma Abid (WHO Egypt Representative)
• Africa CDC: Dr. Abebe Genetu (Local Manufacturing Coordinator)
• UNICEF: Natalia Winder-Rossi (Representative, Cairo Office)
• European Union Delegation in Egypt: Iva Stemonova (Programme Manager)

The event also welcomed the technology transfer provider team led by Dr. Andrew Wang of Walvax, ranked among the world’s top six vaccine manufacturers by WHO.

Key Highlights

• Presentation of compelling international studies confirming the cost-effectiveness and disease-prevention impact of PCV13.
• Evidence from Egypt’s surveillance studies, presented by Dr. Marwa Abdel Shafi and Ministry of Health and Population Team, demonstrating PCV13’s effectiveness against the most relevant circulating pneumococcal strains.
• Strong declarations of support from UPA and EDA leadership, reinforcing Egypt’s path toward Vaccine manufacturing independence and self-sufficiency.
• Strategic insights from WHO, Africa CDC, UNICEF, and EU representatives on the role of vaccine localization in advancing regional health resilience.

A National and Regional Milestone

Dr. Magdy El-Sayed emphasized that this achievement reflects VBC’s strategic vision to position Egypt as a hub for vaccine innovation, manufacturing, and localization, reinforcing national health security while contributing to Africa’s broader journey toward biotechnological self-reliance.

This synergy of national surveillance, regulatory support, international collaboration, and strategic leadership marks a decisive step toward a pneumonia-free future, protecting generations to come and advancing Egypt’s role as a driving force in global health.