1.5 m Pfizer doses enter country from US

A shipment of 1.5 million doses of Pfizer vaccine has been received as a donation from the US late Saturday through Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX). This announcement came from the US Embassy in Cairo.

“The vaccines are to help Egyptians protect themselves from the virus and prevent the spread of its new strains,” an embassy statement said, adding that the new doses will be handed over to facilities of the Egyptian Health Ministry’s facilities prior to nationwide distribution.

Since August, Egypt has received shipments of US-made Johnson & Johnson, Moderna and Pfizer jabs.

Earlier in December, the Health Ministry announced that it had found three Egyptian nationals infected with the Omicron variant on their return from abroad at Cairo International Airport and ordered their isolation.

“The emergence of Omicron variant places even greater importance on our working together, as strategic partners, to overcome the pandemic,” the US embassy said.

The US government, through United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has granted Egypt $55 million to support the country’s coronavirus response, reaching nearly 18 million people, the embassy added.

Egypt received the first Pfizer vaccine shipment from the US late September.

More than 13.6 million Pfizer doses are available in Egypt and form part of 500 million doses donated by the US to African Union countries through COVAX.

Egypt has allocated the Pfizer doses for those travelling abroad for study or work, medical staff and children aged 12-18.

Meanwhile, the Higher Committee for the Management of the Coronavirus Crisis has made vaccinations compulsory for those who have not yet had the jabs.

The committee has also accelerated the vaccination process for more people in Egypt and facilitated Covid-19 registration by setting up more points at train and metro stations.

Children between the ages of 12 and 18 are to be vaccinated. Youngsters who have been vaccinate more than six months ago will be eligible for a booster, the committee said.

While tighter preventive restrictions will be in force, the progress of the variant will be monitored in addition to stepping up genomic tests for positive cases.

Since 1 December 2021, Egypt has banned for all unvaccinated persons from government departments and educational institutions in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus.