In a statement by the health ministry, Abdel-Ghaffar emphasised the importance of cooperation between the two countries in the field of joint manufacturing of coronavirus vaccines, stressing the Egyptian state's interest in transferring its expertise in the drug and vaccine industry to Kazakhstan in support of the latter’s health system.

Since summer Egypt has already started producing Sinovac vaccine locally at its VACSERA factory for domestic consumption as well as for export to African countries.

Abdel-Ghaffar also tackled during his meeting with Kazakhstan’s ambassador the procedures that guarantee the safety of travel and movement between the two countries, highlighting the mutual recognition of vaccination certificates for the coronavirus between the two countries through the electronic passport.

On the other side, the ambassador indicated the intention of his country to supply the Egyptian state with 5 million doses of the anti-Coronavirus vaccine "QazVac" as soon as it is approved by the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA), according to the statement.

This came after Abdel-Ghaffar gave his directives to the EDA to start registering and authorizing the use of QazVac to ensure its effectiveness and safety after listening to a detailed explanation about the Kazakh Covid-19 vaccine.

QazVac vaccine is taken in two shows with a three-week interval.

The vaccine was developed by Kazakh Scientific Research Institute for Biological Safety

Last week, Abdel-Ghaffar stated that Egypt has so far received a total of 122.2 million doses of coronavirus vaccines.

In a presentation on the latest developments regarding the coronavirus pandemic during the weekly cabinet meeting in Cairo, Abdel-Ghaffar said that 57.4 million doses have been administered, leaving 64.8 million in stock, since the start of Egypt’s mass vaccination in January 2020.

Egypt is currently administrating Sinopharm, Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Sputnik, Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.