Egypt's Health Minister Says Citizens Can Start Registering For COVID-19 Vaccine

Egypt's Health Minister Hala Zayed speaks during a news conference alongside Dr Abdel Menoim Selim and nurse Ahmed Hamdan Zayed, the first two Egyptians to receive Chinese Sinopharm coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine, inside a tent set up outside the Abou Khalifa hospital in Ismailia, Egypt January 24, 2021. REUTERS/Shokry Hussien

Egyptian Minister of Health Hala Zayed announced on Sunday that citizens will be able to begin registration to receive the coronavirus vaccine starting next week, beginning the next step in the country’s vaccination campaign.

In late January, Egypt started vaccinating medical workers at quarantine hospitals.

In this context, Zayed noted that the priority will be given to the elderly and those suffering from chronic diseases during the next phase.

She also confirmed that Egypt will receive a “big” shipment of vaccines, noting that Egypt signed contracts to receive 100 million doses.

Zayed told reporters that the country will receive 8.6 million of the AstraZeneca doses later this month.

“Egypt is set to receive a total of 40 million vaccine doses from GAVI during 2021,” she added.

The Minister asserted that Egypt is the first African country to approve COVID-19 vaccines and receive them.

All the vaccines that are obtained are approved for emergency use through the Egyptian Medicines Authority and its affiliated laboratories, she assured.

Hossam Hosni, head of the scientific committee to combat coronavirus in Egypt, confirmed the committee’s intention to amend the treatment protocol for the virus to include new drugs. He asserted that the treatment protocol will be updated.