Egypt’s Scientific Committee to confront Corona: The corona vaccination will be annual

CAIRO - 10 May 2020: Head of the scientific committee to confront the coronavirus, Hossam Hosni, said that the vaccination against the coronavirus will not be a one-time vaccination, but will be annual, like the influenza vaccine.

"It is important to begin manufacturing the vaccine in Egypt during the coming period so that we have local production that guarantees the prevention of this epidemic," he added.

Hosni explained, in a telephone interview on Extra News channel, that the AstraZeneca vaccine is safe and effective, and that the clots, which sometimes form as a side effect, occur only in five people per million cases. Hosni further stressed that the vaccine’s side effects are much milder than the effect of smoking or contraceptives.

On the epidemiological situation of the coronavirus in Egypt, he said, "We are still witnessing a surge in cases and this increase is attributed to groups that the state has tried to manage with several measures, and we ask people to adhere to social distancing, especially on holidays."

Concerning some people’s disapproval of the Corona vaccine, he stated, “I beg you to get vaccinated. Most countries of the world, including all European countries, lose one or two lives to the virus per day after 100 percent of the targeted segment of citizens have been vaccinated, most importantly the elderly and those who suffer from chronic diseases. I ask the skeptics to read and study before making a decision.”

Egypt is free from the double-mutant Covid variant (B1617), announced Minister of Health Hala Zayed in a press conference, adding that the country will produce 2 million doses of anti-Coronavirus vaccines by the end of May.