Health Minister Enrique Paris praised today’s announcement by executives from the Chinese Sinovac laboratory to invest in Chile by building a vaccine production plant in the Metropolitan Region and a research and development (R+D) center in Antofagasta. The plant will produce doses of the CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccine.
The health minister participated in a working day, during which a delegation of scientists and executives reported the results of their two-week visit to Chile to examine local vaccine development. They told of their decision to set up a plant in Chile at the event.
“Today is a very happy day for us, a very important day, because domestic vaccine production will return to Chile.” Chile began domestic vaccine production in 1867, but “lost the opportunity” two decades ago following the closure of the laboratory at the Institute of Public Health (ISP).
Minister Paris emphasized that this milestone will make Chile a Latin American hub of vaccine development.
“It is a happy day for Chile; but not only for Chile, because the factory will be able to produce vaccines for export to Latin American countries that have experienced difficulties in acquiring them. We obviously want to help. The important issues here are solidarity, international friendship throughout Latin America and collaboration with our brothers and sisters, in order to manage and combat the effects of the pandemic,” Dr. Paris reported.
The health minister commented on the details of the investment, saying “you all know that Chile has been identified as the best county in Latin America in fighting the pandemic. We are the best country in Latin America with respect to vaccinations and I believe that Sinovac has placed its trust in Chile by setting up a plant here in Santiago and a R+D center in Antofagasta. This shows their support for the country and recognizes the contribution of areas outside of Santiago.”
The plant in the Metropolitan Region will be dedicated to filling and finishing the production of CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccines and others, such as hepatitis and influenza vaccines.
Sinovac Vice-President Weining Meng led the delegation and reported that the company had decided to invest in Chile following two weeks of meetings and visits, with the support of the Universidad Católica and InvestChile.
He added that research alliances will be implemented in the medium term to rapidly produce CoronaVac vaccines in Chile.
Economy Minister Lucas Palacios, Science Minister Andrés Couve, National Assets Minister Julio Isamit, the dean of the Universidad Católica, the director of the Millennium Institute and the managing director of InvestChile also participated in today’s meeting.