On Sunday, the Egyptian Minister of Health and Population Hala Zayed announced that the coronavirus vaccine will cost a maximum of LE200 for most Egyptians, and will be offered for free to healthcare workers and those receiving financial assistance from the government.
Zayed said, during a telephone interview with Egypt’s satellite channel ONE on Sunday evening, that anyone may sign up to receive the vaccine through the ministry’s official website or by going to any ministry-affiliated hospital to fill out an application.
The first dose of the vaccine will cost LE100 for one dose, and both doses should cost no more than LE200, Zayed said.
She affirmed that the vaccine will be provided free of charge to medical staff in all hospitals nationwide, as well as to Egyptians enrolled in the government’s Takaful and Karama aid programs.
Those who are eligible to receive the vaccine for free will be registered in the ministry’s system under their national ID number.
Egypt began vaccinating healthcare workers with the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine on Sunday. The beginning of its massive campaign includes vaccinating all medical staff, the elderly, and people with chronic diseases.
Those under 18 years and pregnant women are not to receive the vaccine, as clinical studies have yet to confirm if it is safe for these groups.
Just Sinopharm has been approved by the Egyptian Ministry of Health, but Zayed affirmed that three more will soon get the green light: China’s Sinovac vaccine, the UK’s AstraZeneca, and Russia’s Sputnik V.
Egypt is awaiting doses of the vaccine from Sinopharm, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and AstraZeneca, however, their arrival times have yet to be determined due to increased global demand for the vaccine.
The ministry expects to have a clear timeline on when the vaccine will be available to the general public by the end of March.
