Egypt will receive the second batch of Sinopharm, the coronavirus vaccine developed by the Chinese National Pharmaceutical Group.
Egyptian Health Minister Hala Zayed received the second batch on Sunday which arrived from the UAE, after receiving the first batch on Thursday, announced State Information Service.
Health officials announced that the vaccine, which is administered in two-dose series three weeks apart, will be free of charge with a priority to medical staff and people with chronic diseases.
It was not declared how many vaccines Egypt had ordered, but the Health Minister said that there will be more shipments in the coming days.
Earlier, the Minister of State for Information Osama Heikal confirmed that President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi had ordered providing the vaccine to Egyptians free of charge.
Heikal announced that the first batch will be administered to the most vulnerable groups, including doctors and hospital staff, the elderly, and groups that are threatened by the virus.
He confirmed that Egypt is the first African country to obtain the Chinese Sinopharm’s coronavirus vaccine and the second Arab country after the UAE.
Heikal said Egypt obtained its first batch before the EU and the US, reflecting the government’s success in dealing with the coronavirus crisis since its start.
He explained that the good relations with China and Egypt's participation in the clinical trials of the vaccine were among the most important reasons for obtaining the vaccine as soon as it was approved.
He noted that the Health Minister personally underwent the initial clinical trials of the Chinese vaccine.
Egypt, with a population of over 100 million, is a large market for vaccines.
On Saturday, the Health Ministry announced 478 new coronavirus cases, and 21 deaths, compared with 464 cases and 23 deaths on Friday.
Ministry spokesman Khalid Mujahid said in a statement that the total number of coronavirus in Egypt reached 121,089 cases, including 104,710 recoveries, and 6,898 deaths.
