On Sunday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ordered the vaccination of all university and school staff and students against COVID-19 ahead of the new academic year, Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady said.
Public schools are set to begin session on Saturday, October 9, while international school students are due back on September 12.
The directive comes as some universities in Egypt are requiring proof of vaccination for staff and students, such as the American University in Cairo, who announced last week that only those who are vaccinated may enter campus.
As of August 10, Egypt’s vaccination campaign has administered a total of 5.7 million doses, according to World Health Organization data.
The country has a population of 104 million.
The campaign aims to vaccinate 40 percent of its citizens by the end of 2021. Ministry workers have visited public markets, public transportation, places of worship, salons, cafes, shops, gathering spaces, and villages to educate the public on the vaccine and encourage them to sign up for the jab.
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IMAGE: Egyptian President Sisi takes coronavirus vaccine
