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.

The minister also said that vaccination centres have been increased to 1,400, including 324 in hospitals, 180 centres for travellers, and 243 at youth centres.

Abdel-Ghaffar also revealed that the 12 to 15 age group has received 144,700 vaccine doses, and the 15 to 18 age group has received 1.2 million doses.

Egypt expanded the age of vaccination to include both the 12-15 and 15-18 age groups in November 2021.

On 29 December, Egypt announced that it had administered more than 21 million second vaccine shots since the country started its vaccination campaign.

When it comes to the COVID-19 treatments, Minister Abdel-Ghaffar said Egypt will receive Pfizer’s Paxlovid pills required for the treatment of 20,000 coronavirus patients, as well as AstraZeneca’s Evusheld coronavirus antibody required to treat 50,000 patients.

The acting health minister also said that three local companies will produce Merck’s Molnupiravir coronavirus drug.

The three drugs all obtained the authorisation of the US Food and Drug Administration for emergency use in December.