Egypt begins coronavirus vaccination campaign

Gulf Today Report

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi of Egypt said that the country will launch its COVID-19 national vaccination campaign on Sunday, the Middle East News Agency (MENA) reported.

President El Sisi said, during a visit to open national projects in Port Said, that the country will prioritise vaccination for medial staff, people with chronic diseases, and the elderly.

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President has announced on Saturday that Egypt would start rolling out a mass Covid-19 vaccination campaign the following day with the Chinese-made Sinopharm jab.

Egypt has registered over 160,000 novel coronavirus infections, including more than 8,850 deaths.

"We are starting a vaccination drive tomorrow beginning with healthcare workers followed by those suffering from chronic diseases and later the elderly," Sisi said in brief comments after unveiling several development projects in Port Said.

Egypt, the Arab world's most populous country, received its first batch of the Sinopharm vaccines in December.

The company says its vaccine is 79 percent effective against the novel coronavirus.

Earlier this month, Health Minister Hala Zayed said Egypt would also receive 40 million doses, mostly of the AstraZeneca/Oxford jab, via the Gavi vaccine alliance, with the aim of inoculating 20 percent of its more than 100 million strong population.

Egypt has registered over 160,000 novel coronavirus infections, including more than 8,850 deaths.