Egypt could start Covid-19 vaccination within weeks, says health minister

The country received its first shipment of the Sinopharm vaccine last month, but further deliveries have been delayed

China's Sinopharm vaccine received emergency authorisation to be used in Egypt. Reuters

Egypt expects to start receiving Covid-19 vaccines through the Geneva-based GAVI vaccine alliance in the coming weeks, its health minister said on Monday.

The country will get 40 million vials for 20 million people, about 20 per cent of the 100 million population, Hala Zayed said.

"It will give us the urgent needs during the first quarter," Ms Zayed said.

"Within two or three weeks maximum there will be the beginning of the influx of GAVI vaccines, which largely will be AstraZeneca [vaccines]," she said.

Coronavirus around the world – in pictures 

A resident scans a QR code held by a volunteer at the gate of a residential compound in Xinle, following a recent outbreak of the coronavirus disease in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province, China. Reuters

Kimono-clad women wearing face masks to protect against the spread of the coronavirus pose for a selfie together following a Coming-of-Age ceremony in Yokohama, near Tokyo. AP Photo

Customers wear protective masks while shopping at a market in Taipei, Taiwan. Reuters

Kimono-clad women wearing face masks to protect against the spread of the coronavirus sit with social distancing for a Coming-of-Age ceremony in Yokohama, near Tokyo. The Tokyo area has been under a state of emergency since Friday to try to stop the spread of the virus. AP Photo

A street artist wears a painted protective facemask to match her makeup in Bangkok. AFP

An official wearing a face mask and shield while cleaning the net, ahead of the Thailand Open badminton tournament in Bangkok. AFP

A man wearing a face mask walks by a smartphone advertisement at a subway station in Beijing. AP Photo

Two scooters are seen parked at the deserted Canebiere street in Marseille, southern France, moments after the 6pm curfew started, instead of 8pm, in the Bouches-du-Rhone departement. AFP

Nurse practitioner Sarah Gonzalez prepares to give a dose of the coronavirus Moderna vaccine at a mass vaccination site at Brooklyn Army Terminal in New York City, New York, US. Reuters

A healthcare worker administers the Covid-19 vaccine to residents living in the Jackson Heights neighbourhood at St Johns Missionary Baptist Church in Tampa, Florida. AFP

GAVI and the World Health Organisation set up the Covax initiative to secure fair vaccine access for lower and middle-income countries.

Ms Zayed said Egypt expected to sign a contract with AstraZeneca once an Egyptian drug regulator approved the company's vaccines. That approval was expected within a week.

Cairo has asked Pfizer to send data on its vaccine to the regulator, Ms Zayed said.

Egypt received its first shipment of vaccines developed by Sinopharm in December, but further shipments have been delayed.

Ms Zayed said more Sinopharm vaccines would arrive within days.

Egypt has signed a contract with Sinopharm to receive 40 million more doses and hopes for a similar amount from AstraZeneca.

Vaccination could start later this month or in early February once the second shipment from Sinopharm arrives, Ms Zayed said.

The vaccine received "emergency authorisation" to be used in Egypt, she said.

As of Monday, Egypt's government has confirmed 150,753 infections and 8,249 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

However, health officials say the real number is likely to be much higher because of the relatively low rate of coronavirus testing and the exclusion of private test results.