Egypt's Minister of Health and Population Hala Zayed announced, on Sunday, receiving the second shipment of "Johnson & Johnson" vaccines against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) with a total of 525,600 doses, through the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT). The vaccine supply plan comes in cooperation with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), within the state's plan to diversify and expand the provision of anti-COVID-19 vaccines. The Health Ministry stressed the importance of permanent cooperation with international organisations to address the pandemic and provide vaccines to citizens. The shipment will be distributed to centres designated to vaccinate travellers from Egypt, as well as 776 local vaccination centres nationwide. According to the ministry, the shipment will be subject to analysis in the laboratories of the Egyptian Drug Authority. Johnson & Johnson vaccine has proven effective in preventing infection with the Coronavirus. It is taken as a single dose, and it obtained emergency use approval from the World Health Organization – WHO and the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA). Centers designated to vaccinate travelers with the Coronavirus vaccine are equipped with all the requirements for data registration and issuance of documented certificates for those who receive the vaccine, according to the Health Ministry. The number of vaccination centres has been increased to 657 instead of 580 centres, and the number of travel centres to 145 instead of 134 centres. Major centres are being prepared in Sharqia and Assiut governorates.
