Egypt has received 500,000 doses of China's Sinovac coronavirus vaccine, airport sources said, as the health ministry said local production of the Chinese vaccine will start in mid-June.

Egypt received raw materials for the production of two million Sinovac doses in May, after signing an agreement to produce the vaccine locally and distribute it in Egypt and other African countries.

The first vials are due to be produced on June 15 and up to six weeks will be needed for checks before they are put to use in vaccination centres, Health Minister Hala Zayed told the private MBC Masr TV channel late on Sunday.

Egypt expects raw materials for a further 4.2m Sinovac doses this month, Zayed said, and aims to produce 40m doses this year.