Egypt receives 3.M doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine

CAIRO - 29 January 2022: Egypt has received 3.9 million doses of AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine which were delivered at Cairo International Airport through the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) in cooperation with GAVI Alliance, the health ministry announced.

The vaccine shipment donated by the UK was shipped within three batches on Thursday and Friday, said Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Acting Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, extending thanks to Britain for supporting the country in confronting the pandemic.

The shipment will be tested at the Egyptian Drug Authority laboratories before distribution to vaccination centres across the country, he further said.

For his part, British Ambassador to Egypt Gareth Bayley voiced happiness for the delivery of about 4 million doses of AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine to Egypt.

"The move is considered another turning point with our partnership with Egypt," he added.

"The UK is committed to ensuring equitable vaccine access to all,” he affirmed.

The COVAX initiative is trying to narrow the gap between the millions being vaccinated in some countries compared to many less in other parts of the world