Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing plans grow in region

12 April 2021
More than 7.1 million Covid-19 cases have been confirmed to date in the Mena region, with Iran alone accounting for 2.1 million infections

The number of Covid-19 cases in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region crossed 7,128,926 on 12 April, according to Worldometers data collated by MEED.

Countries in the GCC account for 23.2 per cent (1,650,720) of all regional infections, while Iran’s confirmed 2,093,452 cases make up 29.4 per cent of the Mena total.

Since 5 April, 329,977 new Covid-19 cases have been detected in 17 Mena countries tracked by MEED.

Hajj and Umrah Covid-19 guidelines

The pandemic will impact pilgrims in Saudi Arabia for the second consecutive year. Only pilgrims and worshippers who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 or have recovered from coronavirus will be allowed into the Grand Mosque in Mecca.

Saudi Arabia’s Hajj & Umrah Ministry said last week that permits will be granted to those who have received two vaccination jabs, those who have received a first dose at least 14 days before their visit to Medina and Mecca, and those who have had the virus and recovered. 

According to local media reports, almost 10,000 Grand Mosque workers have been inoculated as part of the Ramadan operational plan.

A similar system is being followed in Bahrain, which will open mosques for Friday, Isha and Taraweeh prayers from the first day of the holy month of Ramadan.

However, only worshippers who have received the Covid-19 vaccine, with the second dose received at least 14 days ago, as well as those who have recovered from coronavirus and can present recovery certificates, will be allowed to enter.

Saudi Arabia is also planning beyond the summer months, and announced last week that universities, technical and vocational education centres and training schools must prepare their staff and students to take a Covid-19 vaccine before the new academic year.

Education Minister Hamad al-Sheikh said the ministry is working on a timeline for the inoculation process, with plans for the vaccine to become mandatory for all education industry workers over time.

For now, however, the Health Ministry is rescheduling second dose appointments due to the international shortage of vaccines.

State news agency Spa reported that the ministry has expanded the administration of first doses to ensure that the largest number of the population is covered with the first dose of the vaccine, especially high-risk groups. The move is expected to “have a direct impact on reducing severe cases and protecting public health”.

Vaccine administration plans have also advanced in Oman, where stocks have been replenished following the arrival of new consignments. At present, individuals aged 60 years or older are being administered the Pfizer-BioNTech or Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines based on availability in healthcare centres.

Bahrain will allow indoor gyms, swimming pools, cinemas and other attractions to open to vaccinated people and those who have recovered from coronavirus from the first day of Eid al-Fitr.

The attractions will be open to those who are 14 days past their second Covid-19 vaccine dose and their children, as well as people who have recovered from the virus. Both groups must present evidence of their vaccine or recovery status.

Iran’s fourth Covid-19 wave

However, lockdowns are returning to parts of the region. Iran imposed a 10-day lockdown across most of the country from 10 April to curb the spread of a fourth wave. The lockdown affects 23 of the country’s 31 provinces, according to health ministry spokesman Alireza Raisi. 

“Unfortunately … we have entered a fourth wave,” President Hassan Rouhani said.

Vaccine pipeline

Despite the rise in case numbers, there is cause for optimism, with several Mena nations advancing over the past week in terms of both new vaccine deliveries and production plans.

Iraq received its first shipment of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines on 11 April. The consignment includes 50,000 doses of the jab and will be administered through 50 outlets in Baghdad and other Iraqi provinces. Baghdad also received a new shipment of 200,000 doses of the China-produced Sinopharm vaccine on 11 April.

A batch of Sinopharm arrived at Jordan's Queen Alia International airport last week. In the same week, Morocco reportedly received 307,200 doses of vaccines through the Covax facility. Morocco is also expected to receive 10 million vaccine doses from China in April and May, according to local media.

Earlier this week, Libya launched its inoculation drive after receiving about 160,000 doses of vaccines over the past week, of which around 100,000 are understood to be the Russian jab Sputnik-V. Libya’s neighbour to the west, Tunisia, has also expanded its inoculation programme over the past week.

Tunis approved Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine last week, Health Minister Faouzi Mehdi said, adding that the country expected to receive 1.5 million doses of the vaccine under an African Union plan.

Tunisia is said to have asked Russia for additional doses of the Sputnik-V vaccine as well. Director of Tunisia’s National Observatory of New and Emerging Diseases, Nissaf Ben Alaya, said the country was also keen to start manufacturing vaccines.

“I would like that this issue is also researched, so that, perhaps, we can establish a centre on creating laboratories for producing vaccines.”

Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing in Mena

After the UAE’s plans to manufacture Hayat-Vax were revealed last month, Algeria has said it will start producing Sputnik-V in September through a partnership with Moscow. A proportion of the production will go to African countries.

Lotfi Benbahmed, Algeria’s pharmaceutical minister, said the vaccine will be produced in partnership with state pharma manufacturer Saidal in the eastern city of Constantine.

Egypt is also said to have agreed with China’s Sinovac Biotech to manufacture its Covid-19 vaccine locally. The agreement could result in the production of up to 80 million doses a year.

Egypt’s cabinet and presidency have reportedly approved a joint manufacturing agreement to make the vaccines, which will be distributed in Egypt and to other African countries. One of the planned facilities can produce 20 million doses a year, while another can manufacture 60 million, Arab News reported.

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