CAIRO: Egypt authorized on Sunday Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 12-15, the cabinet said in a statement.
The step effectively lowers the minimum age of eligibility to receive the two-shot vaccine in Egypt, which was 15 years old previously.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly directed the government to take all precautionary measures against the new COVID-19 variant Omicron, noting the decision to halt all direct flights with South Africa.
His comments came during a meeting of a medical group to combat coronavirus, the state news agency (MENA) reported.
Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, higher education and acting health minister, reviewed a report on the current local and international epidemical situation and the developments of the new variant, adding that the report confirmed there are no Omicron cases detected in Egypt till now.
He said that about 45.2 million vaccine doses had been administered, with 15.6 million people having received both doses.
On Friday, Egypt suspended direct flights to and from South Africa due to concerns about a new variant of the COVID-19 virus.
(With Reuters)
Egypt authorizes Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for 12 to 15 year-olds
https://arab.news/jmkr8
Egypt authorizes Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for 12 to 15 year-olds
- Prime minister directs government to take all precautionary measures against new COVID-19 variant Omicron
Syria, Russia discuss developing military cooperation
- Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov is visiting Syria to develop military cooperation
LONDON: Syria’s Chief of General Staff Maj. Gen. Ali Al-Naasan discussed military issues with Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov and his delegation on Wednesday.
Yevkurov is visiting Syria for several days to develop military cooperation that serves the common interests of both countries, according to Syria’s Defense Ministry.
In June, Syrian Defense Minister Maj. Gen. Murhaf Abu Qasr, Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani and General Intelligence Director Hussein Salameh met in Moscow with Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov to discuss bilateral cooperation.
Russia was a strong supporter of Bashar Assad’s former regime and played a crucial role in 2015 in halting the territorial gains of rebels during the Syrian conflict. In December 2024, it assisted Assad in fleeing the country to Moscow from Khmeimim air base near the coastal city of Latakia.
The new administration in Damascus, led by President Ahmad Al-Sharaa, has met Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, on several occasions to maintain ties with Russia and serve Syrian interests.
