Construction of a COVID-19 vaccine production plant has begun near Vitebsk

JSC "BelVitunipharma" has commenced the construction of a plant for the production of a human vaccine against coronavirus, involving the reconstruction of existing facilities in Dolzha, Vitebsk District. As planned, in the first half of 2023, Belarus will receive the first batch of its own COVID-19 vaccine.

JSC "BelVitunipharma" has commenced the construction of a plant for the production of a human vaccine against coronavirus, involving the reconstruction of existing facilities in Dolzha, Vitebsk District. As planned, in the first half of 2023, Belarus will receive the first batch of its own COVID-19 vaccine.

Today, a working meeting was held at the enterprise to coordinate the actions of all stakeholders during the initial construction phase and to ensure the precise adherence to the equipment delivery schedule from Germany, Poland, South Korea, and other countries. There can be no minor details in such a serious and important undertaking. The meeting was attended by the Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, Alexander Subbotin, the Minister of Health, Dmitry Pinevich, representatives of the Republican Scientific and Practical Centre of Epidemiology and Microbiology, RUP "Belmedpreparaty", the design institute "Belgosproekt", the general contractor – JSC "Stroy-trust №35", and others.

The Director of "BelVitunipharma", Sergey Bolshakov, reported on the 100 percent readiness to commence the construction of the new facility. He emphasized that the human vaccine production technology corresponds to the 6th, the highest class. All preparatory stages have been successfully completed, and permits have been obtained. The new plant, which has no analogues in the CIS, is unrelated to the production of animal vaccines, which was the enterprise's previous specialization.

As is known, the President of the Republic of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, signed a decree on the implementation of an investment project in 2021–2023 to organize the production of a domestic vaccine against COVID-19 at JSC "BelVitunipharma". Its implementation will provide an impetus for the development of not only the region but the entire country.

The Minister of Health highlighted the importance of the task set before the employees of "BelVitunipharma", the adherence to construction deadlines, and the vaccine's release in the first half of 2023. Creating an effective means of combating coronavirus, leaving no room for doubt about its efficacy and quality, must be the top priority.

Incidentally, the implementation of this investment project will be inspected by representatives of the WHO.