The Egyptian Health Ministry announced Thursday that the country has agreed with China’s Sinovac Biotech Ltd to manufacture its coronavirus vaccine domestically.

The ministry added that Egypt could produce up to 80 million doses a year.

The agreement could help provide a major boost to vaccination efforts in Egypt.

The Egyptian Health Minister Hala Zayed said that the country’s cabinet and presidency approved a joint manufacturing agreement to produce the vaccines that will be distributed in Egypt and to other African countries.

According to the ministry, one production facility can produce 20 million doses annually, while another could produce 60 million.

Jan. 24, Egypt began its national coronavirus vaccination campaign, using the Chinese COVID-19 vaccine Sinopharm.

Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, Egypt has confirmed 208,082 cases and 12,323 deaths.