Egypt runs tests on AstraZeneca anti-Omicron drug before permitting its use

CAIRO – 21 December 2021: Chairman of AstraZeneca Egypt Hatem al-Werdany stated in a phone-in with TV host Amr Adib that Egypt's Ministry of Health and Population is running tests on the anti-COVID-19 drug devised by the company to treat the omicron variant before it is offered in the Egyptian market.

Werdany pointed out that AstraZeneca prepares to supply 2.5 billion doses – worldwide - of the new drug, which has the form of an injection whose effect lasts between six months and a year.

In a similar context, the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) announced in November the start of clinical trials for the first Egyptian-made coronavirus vaccine Covi Vacc.

Egypt has received doses from the vaccines of Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Sinovac, Sinopharm, Sputnik V. This is in addition to the raw material for the production of Sinovac/VACSERA vaccine doses.

Egypt has vaccinated almost 40 million people against coronavirus since the start of its vaccination campaign, Health Ministry Spokesman Hossam Abdel Ghaffar told media earlier.