https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1194396.shtml?fbclid=IwAR0DXA0TdUqfkSqCXxNGdXvqtrODNM5jyEacmke9ETbscrbke9DOtJA1uPs Construction started on the first COVID-19 vaccine production base in East China’s Zhejiang Province on Saturday in the Ningbo Free Trade Zone, and the facility is expected to be put in use in March next year.
Total investment is estimated at 2.5 billion yuan ($357 million), of which 550 million yuan will be used in the research, development and production of an effective vaccine, according to the Administrative Committee of Ningbo Free Trade Zone (NFTZ) on Monday.
“Under the premise of ensuring quality, we will accelerate the construction of the vaccine workshop and strive to put it into use next March. We will also strive to realize COVID-19 vaccine production in Ningbo in the first half of next year,” said Yan Rongjie, director of the administrative committee.
The project will be implemented in three phases, with the first phase costing 1.3 billion yuan to commercialize the production of a COVID-19 vaccine as well as a new rabies vaccine for human use, while also building a high-level biological laboratory.