The cabinet has approved the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation's proposal to construct an influenza and bird flu vaccine plant in Saraburi's Kaeng Khoi district.
AFP photo
Public Health Minister Rajata Rajatanavin said the 1.4 billion baht manufacturing facility approved Tuesday will be constructed and operated in accordance with the Good Manufacturing Practices principles of the World Health Organization, and serve as a venue to produce vaccines during both normal times and during an outbreak of potentially deadly bird flu virus.
The plant's construction will take about 18 months to complete. After installation and tests of manufacturing equipment, the plant is expected to start producing vaccines in early 2018, Dr Rajata said.
Acting deputy GPO director Wanicha Jaisumrarns said once the construction is completed, the facility will be able to initially manufacture two million doses of seasonal inactivated influenza vaccines a year with maximum production capacity of up to 10 million doses annually.
The plant's high production capacity is aimed at responding to a pandemic requiring at least 60 million doses, Dr Wanicha said, adding it will enable the country to become more self-reliant in flu vaccine production.