In media statements to Al-Hadth Al-Youm TV show, Higher Education Ministry Spokesperson Adel Abdel-Ghafar said that the state is keen that all university activities resume completely on campuses; a vision that requires all students and university staff to be vaccinated to ensure the safety of all campuses.

He stated that the reason only vaccinated students will be allowed to live in dorms this year is to guarantee the safe return of the “huge” academic community in Egypt.  

“A student who is not vaccinated is a danger to himself and the whole system,” he added.

Abdel-Ghafar also revealed that university students will now also have their own section at the official COVID-19 vaccination registration website.

Earlier on Monday, Minister of Health Hala Zayed stated that 1,100 centres nationwide are being set up for university students to receive COVID-19 vaccinations.

The centres are comprised of 830 vaccination centres previously set up by the health ministry as well as 270 converted youth centres, Zayed said in a statement.

The minister also issued directives for vaccination dates to be scheduled within 24 hours for university students who register on the official vaccination website.

The government aims to vaccinate all university students and staff before the new academic year kicks off in mid-October.

The government has previously announced that it plans to vaccinate 40 million citizens by the end of 2021.

According to recent figures, over 13 million people have been vaccinated in Egypt so far.