Morocco Gears Up for Full-Scale Covid-19 Vaccine Production in 2022

Following the launch of the mega-project for the production of the Covid-19 vaccine in Morocco, the kingdom is preparing to produce its first "made in Morocco" dose. After the first stage of "Fill and Finish" dedicated to the filling of vials with the Sinopharm vaccine liquid, the second stage will begin in early 2022, informs L’Opinion, adding that the work on the large manufacturing unit for vaccine active substances should begin a month after the start of mass production of the Chinese vaccine in the Sothema factories.

Thus, the new factory, with an area of 42 hectares and a capacity for aseptic packaging and manufacturing of pharmaceutical products of the P4 type, will be dedicated to aseptic filling and the manufacture of active ingredients such as antigens. Aimed at creating an industrial vaccine production unit like the French factory that manufactures the "Moderna" vaccine, under license, this project was the subject of a memorandum signed between the Moroccan state, the Swedish pharmaceutical giant and the Consortium of Moroccan banks (GPBM).

Scheduled to be operational in 2023, this project will require an investment of 500 million dollars and will allow Morocco to become a vaccine production platform for the supply of African countries. In addition, this project prioritizes the manufacture of the Sinopharm vaccine and also aims to secure Morocco’s supply in order to achieve collective immunity as soon as possible, before starting exports.