Morocco Leads African COVID-19 Vaccine Efforts with Chinese Partnership and Russian Purchase

Morocco does not have the formula for the Chinese vaccine, but just has the license to package it, reports TV5, specifying that the Moroccan private laboratory that is in partnership with Sinopharm, in particular produces pre-filled syringes and implemented for a ready-to-use vaccine, and particularly adapted to the health conditions of Africa.

According to the same source, this laboratory which has a monopoly on manufacturing in Africa (the only one to have introduced this type of syringe on the continent about ten years ago), is ready to triple its vaccine production capacity, to better fight against the coronavirus.

And when will a vaccine be available for Africa? It will only be a vaccine directly imported from China, replies Lamia Tazi, CEO of the pharmaceutical laboratory SOTHEMA, taking into account the vaccination schedule set for next December. However, Lamia Tazi indicated a period of 3 to 6 months "to have a Moroccan product", if her laboratory should manage these vaccinations.

In addition, Morocco, in partnership with other foreign laboratories, had announced the order of 20 million doses of the Russian Sputnik vaccine. While none of these vaccines have been validated by the World Health Organization (WHO), the authorities remain cautious, the media points out.