After receiving the first batch of Chinese Sinopharm’s coronavirus vaccine, Health Minister Hala Zayed said that Egypt will be receiving the vaccine batches in succession and will provide it for free!
The free distribution of the vaccine is based on the directives of the president. The vaccine, according to both Egypt and UAE, is 85% effective and has gone through clinical trials in Egypt these past months, Minister Zayed was one of the volunteers who participated in the clinical trials.
Minister Hala Zayed along with Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang and acting Emirati Ambassador to Egypt Mariam Al-Kaabi, have supervised the arrival of the first batch at the Cairo International Airport. The batch came from the UAE and the minister’s remarks came afterwards.
The Chinese vaccine has so far secured an emergency approval of the World Health Organization, the Minister also added that Egypt has signed deal with the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization to secure the provision of further vaccine doses.
Priority in distribution goes to the medical staff first, those working in isolation hospitals, chest and fever hospitals. Then to patients with cancer or kidney failures, the elderly and people with chronic diseases.
The vaccine is injected in the upper arm and is divided into two shots, given 21 days apart.