Egypt to receive 20M anti-COVID-19 vaccine doses early in 2021 through COVAX Facility

CAIRO – 20 December 2020: Medical Epidemiologist of World Health Organization (WHO) Amgad Elkholy stated Saturday that Egypt will receive 20 million anti-COVID-19 vaccine doses in the first quarter of 2021 through COVAX Facility.

The COVAX Facility, which is an initiative by 64 high-income countries to secure the vaccine for those most in need, has guaranteed two billion anti-Covid-19 vaccine doses until present.

By the end of December 2020, Egypt will have half a million doses of the Chinese vaccine Sinopharm against the coronavirus (COVID-19), said Nader Saad, the Spokesperson of the Cabinet on Wednesday.

The vaccine doses will be given to people who come priority on the waiting lists, said Saad in remarks to "Happens in Egypt" talk show on MBC Masr on Wednesday, adding that SMS will be sent to those people on where and when they could receive the vaccines.

The Ministry of Health is the only concerned body that will be tasked to distribute the vaccines, clarifying that a total of 5,400 health units will distribute the vaccines next January, he continued.

Egypt will obtain 20 million vaccine doses from the Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Saad said, adding that the ministry has been directed to provide additional 10 million doses.

Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli directed the government to form a committee from the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Interior to activate the penalties against the violators of the anti-coronavirus protective procedures, Saad added.