Minister of Health and Population Hala Zayed said 854,400 doses of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine arrived Wednesday at Cairo Airport as part of COVAX agreement.

The batch is part of an advance purchase agreement of 40 million doses provided in cooperation with the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, the World Health Organization (WHO), the UNICEF and the World Bank.

Health Ministry Spokesman Khaled Megahed said AstraZeneca vaccine has obtained WHO's emergency use authorization, adding that the batch will undergo a lab analysis at the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA)'s laboratories before being administered.

All eligible categories vaccinated with the AstarZeneca vaccine are entitled to receive their second dose three months after getting their first jab, he added.

UNICEF and WHO workers observe as the employees unload the shipping containers of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine from the airplane which arrived Wednesday at Cairo Airport on 31 March 2021.

Employees handling the shipping containers of AstarZeneca vaccine in Cairo Airport on Wednesday 31 March 2021.