Turkey, which produced a tuberculosis vaccine in 1998 and then stopped vaccine production, has managed to become one of the 9 countries that produce vaccines against the Covid-19 pandemic by developing the TURKOVAC vaccine.
The new public health center, which is planned as a “vaccine production base” and whose construction works are rapidly continuing, will allow Turkey to have a say in this field again a quarter of a century later.
Located near Ankara Esenboğa Airport, the center will have a closed area of 50,000 square meters and will also conduct R&D and production studies for some genetic products in addition to the vaccine.
The first phase is aimed to be opened by the end of the year.
The ongoing construction works of the Vaccine and Biotechnological Product Research and Production Center of Turkey, which will be equipped with smart building technology, are progressing in three stages.
While the construction of the first phase is nearing completion, this section, which includes some research and production laboratories, is aimed to be put into service by the end of the year.
The second phase of the center’s construction will include vaccine production facilities. In the third stage, the processes of purchasing, assembling, and licensing the devices will be carried out.
The first target is the production of rabies, Hepatitis A, and chickenpox vaccines in Turkey.
The Ministry of Health aims to turn knowledge into product with scientists who have knowledge about the vaccine production processes in the new Public Health and Turkey, to develop domestic production opportunities in this field and reduce external dependence.
First of all, production of rabies, Hepatitis A, and chickenpox vaccines in Turkey is planned with technology transfer. After the service of the Public Health center, it is aimed to produce all vaccines in the vaccination program in Turkey by 2028.
