The Mechnikov Institute, a Russian-Nicaraguan project, will make 1 million flu vaccine doses in 2019, Laureano Murillo, Nicaraguan president's special representative for relations with Russia, said at Yalta economic forum on Thursday
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 18th April, 2019) The Mechnikov Institute, a Russian-Nicaraguan project, will make 1 million flu vaccine doses in 2019, Laureano Murillo, Nicaraguan president's special representative for relations with Russia, said at Yalta economic forum on Thursday.
Russian Deputy Health Minister Sergey Kraevoy said last week that the production of flu vaccine was launched at the institute.
"I must mention a flagship project for us, which is one of its kind in Central America. For us, it is an example of common investment � the Mechnikov vaccine factory in Nicaragua. Today, this factory has already started production in Nicaragua, it produces [flu] vaccines. On April 10, industrial production was launched. This year, a million doses of vaccines will be produced. This is a flagship project for us and we are overwhelmed with its humanitarian importance," Murillo said.
The construction of the production facility was completed in October 2016, but it took more than two years to install modern equipment and complete the necessary procedures, the press service of the institute explained. State investment in the construction and equipment of the institute amounted to $33.5 million, with Nicaragua paying 34 percent of this sum, it added.
Flu vaccine production is important for Latin American countries, since its deficit is currently up to 100 million doses annually. Taking into account the plans to bring the level of immunization of the population against flu to 30 percent by 2022, the deficit will only grow, the institute said.
