Johnson & Johnson vaccine shipment as it is being loaded by the workers in Cairo Airport on Sunday, 8 August, 2021. Photo courtesy of Egyptian health ministry Facebook page.
Egypt’s Minister of Health Hala Zayed announced that the first shipment of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine had arrived at Cairo International Airport on Sunday night.
The shipment comprises 261,600 doses of the vaccine, she said, asserting that other shipments will follow.
The step, which comes in cooperation with the African Union (AU), is in line with the country's plan to make vaccines available for Egyptians and those travelling abroad, the minister added.
Health Ministry Spokesman Khaled Megahed said the shipment will be tested at the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA).
The shipment will be available in 126 centres nationwide dedicated for vaccinating travellers after being tested, Megahed noted. The centres have been equipped to issue vaccination certificates starting Monday.
The spokesman reiterated his call for Egyptians to register at the ministry's website to be jabbed.
The African Union’s special African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) signed in March a $2 billion deal with Johnson & Johnson to purchase 220 million with funds from the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank).
Three days ago, the AU said Africa will be receiving 6.4 million doses of coronavirus vaccines throughout August. African countries are scheduled to receive a total of 50 million doses by the end of the year, the union added.
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