Egypt received the third shipment in three weeks of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines on 30 October. The additional 3.6-million doses shipment comes as part of 8.25 million doses donated from the US to Egypt through COVAX to prevent the spread of the virus’s dangerous new strains.
US Ambassador in Egypt Jonathan R Cohen noted, “These 3.6 million Pfizer doses represent the largest ever donation of vaccines to Egypt and the fourth direct donation of Pfizer vaccines from the people of the United States to the people of Egypt. Today’s vaccine donation underscores our continuing commitment to support Egypt through this global health crisis. The United States has now supplied 8.25 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine to Egypt.”
These Pfizer doses will be swiftly dispatched to Ministry of Health and Population facilities in Cairo, Port Said, Daqahlya, Behaira, Luxor, and Assiut, and stored in UNICEF-funded ultra-cold storage equipment used exclusively for the Pfizer vaccine. They will be distributed to vaccination centres across the country and given to Egyptian citizens and residents.
US cooperation with Egypt in fighting the pandemic is wide-ranging. At the outset of the pandemic, Egypt sent medical supplies to the United States. The US government, through USAID, has provided more than $55m to support Egypt’s coronavirus response, already reaching nearly 18 million people with needed health and economic support.
USAID programs train health care workers, improve tracking of and response to the pandemic, provide food assistance to families affected by the pandemic, and support small businesses.
Earlier this month, the US Government announced an additional $5m in assistance to Egypt to support health workers administering vaccines and strengthen the supply chain for vaccines. This support builds on more than $1bn in the United States has invested over the past 40 years to improve the health of all Egyptians.
The US-Egypt partnership is saving lives and helping Egypt move towards economic recovery.
