Egypt receives 2nd batch of J&J vaccine

Egypt has received a second batch of the anti-Covid single-shot vaccine, totalling 525,600 doses, Minister of Health and Population Hala Zayed said on Sunday.

The jabs, which arrived on Saturday evening, were part of Egypt’s plan to diversify the sources of anti-coronavirus vaccines.

Egypt got this second shipment through the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT), in co-operation with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank).

The country contracted with Afreximbank in May to import 20 million Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine doses. A first batch of 261,000 doses arrived in August.

Ministry of Health Spokesman Khaled Megahed stressed the paramount importance of continuous co-operating with the international organisations for combating the Covid-19 pandemic and providing vaccines for the people.

This second shipment will be distributed on the vaccination centres of people travelling abroad, and on 776 units nationwide to complete citizens’ inoculation process, the spokesman said.

Johnson & Johnson was granted an emergency use licence by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA).

Megahed urged the Egyptian people to register on the ministry’s site, http://www.egcovac.mohp.gov.eg/, for taking the anti-Covid jabs.