Egyptians can start registering for the coronavirus vaccine next week: Health minister

Egyptians can start registering for the coronavirus vaccine next week: Health minister

Minister of Health Hala Zayed said on Sunday that citizens will be able to begin registration to receive the coronavirus vaccine starting next week, beginning the next step in the country's vaccination campaign.

Zayed affirmed in a press conference that priority, according to the government's previously announced vaccination plan, will be given to the elderly and those suffering from chronic diseases.

The health ministry launched a website earlier this year for citizens to reserve doses of a coronavirus vaccine. Those who register on the website will receive a text message indicating the time and location for receiving the vaccine.

Egypt started its coronavirus vaccination campaign in late January by vaccinating medical workers at quarantine hospitals using the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine.

During the press conference, Zayed said Egypt will also receive a "big“ shipment of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccines within hours as a gift from China.

Zayed also announced that Egypt will also receive later this month a total of 8.6 million vaccine doses developed by the British-Swedish pharmaceutical, AstraZeneca.

Egypt officially received the first batch of 50,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine in December as a gift from the UAE.

China pledged to supply Egypt soon with 300,000 Sinopharm vaccine