The government on Wednesday adopted a plan for the revitalisation of production at the Institute of Immunology, under which a new plant would be built in the industrial zone of Brezje, west of Zagreb, to ensure the profitability and sustainability of production of immunologic agents in Croatia.

Revitalising production of vaccines and other immunologic agents, a century-long tradition in Croatia, has strategic, economic, and public-health significance, particularly in the current period of the coronavirus pandemic, Health Minister Vili Beros said on Wednesday.

The plan envisages vaccine self-sufficiency to ensure timely immunisation of the population, Beros added, as well as the self-sufficiency of plasma-derived medicines, production of antivenoms for European snakes, and development of biotechnology and research in the field of immunologic agents.

There is a possibility the project will be financed through the European Regional Development Fund and other European funds, as well as by interested strategic partners, the minister said.