Egypt receives 3.7 million AstraZeneca, J&J COVID-19 doses

CAIRO – 24 November 2021: Cairo International Airport received on Wednesday 3,688,500 doses of the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine, Acting Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar said.

The shipment, delivered through COVAX and in cooperation with the Vaccine Alliance (GAVI), comprises 2,388,500 AstraZeneca shots and 1.3 million Johnson & Johnson shots provided by the United States, Abdel Ghaffar noted.

The doses will be examined by the Egyptian Drug Authority before they are distributed to the vaccination centers nationwide, Abdel Ghaffar said.

A total of 29 million citizens have received the first coronavirus vaccine shot, Cabinet Spokesman Nader Saad said on Wednesday, noting that those who also received the second shot totals 15 million.

Egypt has started its vaccination campaign in January this year.

The country has received all types of vaccines worldwide, the latest of which was Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson.

The country has also allowed the vaccination of children who are above 15 years of age to receive the vaccine.

A total of 4.1 million Egyptian citizens are eligible for a third booster coronavirus vaccine shot six months or more after taking the second vaccine dose, Saad said.