Egypt’s state-owned vaccine manufacturer, the Egyptian Holding Company for Biological Products and Vaccines (VACSERA), has raised vaccine prices by approximately 40% since the beginning of the year due to a worsening foreign currency shortage, two senior officials told Al Manassa.
The company, which operates under the Ministry of Health, is also facing serious shortages of several vaccines, most notably the hepatitis B immunoglobulin and the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine. The officials, who requested anonymity, said the price hikes were directly linked to the Egyptian pound’s depreciation against the U.S. dollar, which has increased the cost of importing pharmaceutical products.
One official noted that financial constraints have made it difficult to procure certain vaccines, and pointed to a global shortage of the varicella vaccine. Only 6,000 doses have been imported since January, the source added.
These vaccines are not included in the government’s free immunization program for children. Their prices now start at EGP 300($ 5.87) and can exceed EGP 4,000 ($78) per dose, making them unaffordable for many families. The rising cost, combined with limited availability, risks leaving vulnerable populations without access to critical preventative care.
In December, a VACSERA official told Al Manassa that three vaccines had seen dramatic price increases. The hepatitis A vaccine for children rose from EGP 404 to EGP 578, reflecting a 43% increase. The price of the meningitis quadrivalent conjugate vaccine, marketed as “Nimenrix,” surged from EGP 368 to EGP 1,275, while the hepatitis B immunoglobulin jumped from EGP 740 to EGP 1,950.
The Central Bank of Egypt announced on March 6,2024 that it would allow the pound to float freely and simultaneously raised interest rates by six percentage points—its largest single-day hike since the country’s foreign currency crisis began in early 2022. The move, while intended to attract investment and stabilize the economy, has intensified cost pressures across import-reliant sectors, particularly healthcare.
“We prioritize public safety, but we’re limited by global market conditions and currency rates,” said one of the VACSERA officials. The pricing crisis adds another layer of difficulty for Egyptians already facing inflation and shrinking access to basic health services.
