Egypt’s Minister of Health and Population Hala Zayed has announced that Egypt will produce its first locally made vaccine against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) by 15 June.
Zayed also noted that Egypt has received the raw materials to start manufacturing the Chinese Sinovac vaccine in the country.
During televised statements on Sunday evening, Zayed said that the locally manufactured vaccine will be offered to citizens within a maximum of six weeks of production.
“We will receive a new shipment of raw materials to manufacture the first batch from the Sinovac vaccine locally,” she said.
The minister stressed that President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has directed the Ministry of Health and Population to exert all possible efforts to manufacture vaccines within the country. The president has also ensured that all required financial and political support for this purpose have been provided.
Regarding the UK decision to add Egypt among seven countries, to its “red list” of destinations that require hotel quarantine on return to England starting from 8 June, Zayed said she was surprised by the decision.
Zayed has also voiced her surprise at Egypt’s being placed on the UK’s COVID-19 travel red list. She added that her ministry has requested a meeting with the British Ambassador in Egypt, Sir Geoffrey Adams, to clarify the matter.
She pointed out that the Ministry of Health and Population has communicated with the Egyptian Embassy in London to present Egypt’s experience in dealing with the global health crisis.
The minister stressed that the presentation of that experience may modify the British Government’s travel advice to Egypt.
Zayed expects that Egypt’s addition to the red list will be only temporary, and that the UK amends the lists and updates them periodically.
