Egypt approves Chinese Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine

China has given conditional approval to a coronavirus vaccine developed by state-owned Sinopharm. (File/AP)
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Updated 03 January 2021
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Egypt approves Chinese Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine

  • Vaccine to be distributed to medical staff in the second week of January
  • A website had been set up registering citizens to receive the first dose of the vaccine

CAIRO: Egypt’s Minister of Health Hala Zayed has announced legislative approval for the emergency use of the Chinese Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine.

In a statement to the Egyptian media, Zayed said: “We have obtained the approval of the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) for an emergency license to use the Sinopharm vaccine.”

She indicated that the vaccine would start to be distributed to medical staff in the second week of January.

Zayed said that Egypt would obtain the British AstraZeneca vaccine through the Vaxira company of the Egyptian Ministry of Health, and that Britain has granted approval to supply Egypt with it.

She confirmed that the contracted manufacturing stages for the AstraZeneca vaccine had begun and that it would be received by the end of this month.

Zayed said that the ministry had provided more than 39 million syringes, in addition to the quantities available in the governorates, noting that the ministry has contracted with national companies to supply more syringes.

A website had been set up registering citizens to receive the first dose of the vaccine, with a video to explain how it works, as well as an explanation of the informed consent that the recipient will sign, she said.

The minister said that recipients of the first dose of the vaccine would receive a medical report to follow up on their condition until they received the second dose 21 days later. Citizens would be vaccinated in the second or third week of January, as soon as the second shipment of the Chinese vaccine arrived.

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has directed the opening of centers for vaccination in all governorates.

Egyptian presidential spokesperson, Bassam Radi, said that El-Sisi had directed the “Long Live Egypt” fund to support the provision of the anti-coronaviris vaccine to high-priority groups, especially medical staff, followed by those with critical and chronic cases, infected cases and the elderly.

In previous press statements, Zayed indicated that the Chinese vaccine was chosen by a committee that included representatives from the medical services of the armed forces, the Ministry of Higher Education, the Egyptian Drug Authority and WHO.


Spain highlights importance of Gaza reconstruction

Palestinian prime minister, Mohammed Mustafa, and the Spanish foreign minister, Jose Manuel Albares. (AP)
Updated 02 January 2026
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Spain highlights importance of Gaza reconstruction

  • Spain officially recognized Palestine as a state in May 2024, in a coordinated move alongside Ireland and Norway

RAMALLAH: The Palestinian prime minister, Mohammed Mustafa, and the Spanish foreign minister, Jose Manuel Albares, on Friday discussed the latest developments in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
During their telephone conversation they emphasized the need to intensify international efforts to end the Israeli occupation and halt attacks and settler violence, and to secure the release of Palestinian funds held by Israeli authorities.
They affirmed the importance of ongoing efforts relating to plans for the reconstruction of Gaza, and Europe’s significant role in this process. Mustafa and Albares highlighted the need to unify Palestinian institutions in Gaza with those in the West Bank, with the aim of establishing a Palestinian state in line with international resolutions, including last year’s New York Declaration.
They also discussed coordination between their countries, and the strengthening of Spain’s political, diplomatic and financial support for Palestine, and Mustafa thanked Spain for its ongoing support.
Spain officially recognized Palestine as a state in May 2024, in a coordinated move alongside Ireland and Norway. Estephan Salameh, the Palestinian finance and planning minister, is set to visit Spain this month to discuss enhanced cooperation, particularly in the areas of development and reconstruction. Meanwhile, Israel continues operating in the occupied West Bank.
The Palestinian Prisoners media office said on Friday that Israel carried out numerous raids across the territory, including the major cities of Ramallah and Hebron, according to The Associated Press.
Nearly 50 people were detained, following the arrest of at least 50 other Palestinians on Thursday, most of those in the Ramallah area.
As 2026 begins, the shaky 12-week-old ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has largely ended large-scale Israeli bombardment of Gaza. 
But Palestinians are still being killed by Israeli fire, especially along the so-called Yellow Line that delineates areas under Israeli control, and the humanitarian crisis is compounded by frequent winter rains and colder temperatures.
On Friday, American actor and film producer Angelina Jolie visited the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. 
The only crossing between the territory and a country other than Israel, it remains closed despite Palestinian requests to reopen it to people and aid.
Jolie met with members of the Red Crescent on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing and then visited a hospital in the nearby city of Arish to speak with Palestinian patients on Friday, according to Egyptian officials.
Aid groups say not enough shelter materials are getting into Gaza during the truce.