The second batch of
the Chinese coronavirus vaccine produced by
the Chinese company Sinopharm arrived in Egypt
on Tuesday. The batch includes 50,000 doses, bringing the balance of
the Ministry of Health to 100,000 doses sufficient for 50,000
people.
The vaccination process is scheduled to start with the first dose, followed by the second dose after 21 days.
Official sources at the Ministry of Health and Population told Egypt
Today that a vaccination plan is being developed to include the
first groups of vaccinations, adding that work is underway
to establish a website to register those who wish
to receive the vaccine. The sources added, "We aim to provide 10
million doses of the Chinese vaccine, as Egypt will be
receiving more doses during the current month in a row."
"It is not possible to use any vaccine except after making sure of its
effectiveness and safety for humans," the source stressed, noting that the
new Corona vaccine that Egypt received is safe and it is the same vaccine that
more than 3,000 volunteers have recently received with no health complications
reported.
According to the source, 86 percent of those who were exposed to
the coronavirus after receiving the vaccine did not
get sick, and 14 percent showed only slight symptoms. Some 99%
of those who received the vaccine produced antibodies.
The Sinopharm vaccine has been tested in more
than six countries, including Egypt, on 45,000 volunteers,
after verifying its effectiveness and safety, and
obtaining emergency approval as approved by the World Health Organization.
The Ministry of Health confirmed earlier that the
45,000 volunteers who underwent scientific experiments for
the vaccine did not prove any unexpected
complications in any case. Sinopharma vaccine,
like any other vaccine, causes a high temperature for
two days, about half a degree, and no complications have
occurred because of it so far.
The Minister of Health Hala Zayed also indicated that
the state possesses medical refrigerators capable
of saving 110 million doses of
the vaccine, saying: “We have launched medical campaigns
nationwide; many citizens have
been treated, furthermore, the initiative of Health for 100
million has produced a health database
for Egyptians."
"The vaccine will be a free charge for
all Egyptians because treating the coronavirus is the responsibility
of the state," she stated.
The Egyptian Health Ministry said on Dec. 10 night the first batch of
the Chinese vaccine arrived at the Cairo International
Airport, coming from the UAE, Sinopharm’s vaccine, according to
UAE and Egypt, has an 86-percent efficacy against the
coronavirus. It has been involved in clinical trials in Egypt over
the past few months. Minister Zayed was one of
the volunteers.
Source: Egypt Today
