Egypt today received 1,766,400 doses of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca through COVAX.

COVAX is a global initiative co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi (the Vaccines Alliance), and the World Health Organization, which works with governments and manufacturers to accelerate the development, production, and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines around the world.

To date, 1 billion doses of AstraZeneca’s vaccine have been released for supply to more than 170 countries and accounts for approximately two-thirds of COVAX supply to date.

Hala Zayed, Minister of Health, Egypt said:

“We are pleased to move quickly to inoculate Egyptians with the support of the COVAX initiative. With this new batch of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca, we can better meet the ever-growing number of vaccine registrations that we are seeing across the country and move one step closer towards recovery.”

Hatem Werdany, Country President for Egypt, AstraZeneca, said: “I was delighted to see the arrival of further doses of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca to Cairo. This is wonderful news for the people of Egypt. On behalf of AstraZeneca, I would like to thank our partners at COVAX and Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population for making this possible. All partners are working round the clock to ensure that as many COVID-19 vaccines can get to as many people as soon as possible. This milestone further demonstrates the value of governments, industry and others working together to fight against the pandemic.”

AstraZeneca is committed to supplying the vaccine broadly and equitably around the world at no profit during the pandemic period. The supply of the vaccine is estimated to have helped save tens of thousands of lives and to have significantly reduced hospitalisations.^1,2 .

COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca:

The COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca, (ChAdOx1-S [Recombinant]), formerly AZD1222, was co-invented by the University of Oxford and its spin-out company, Vaccitech. It uses a replication-deficient chimpanzee viral vector based on a weakened version of a common cold virus (adenovirus) that causes infections in chimpanzees and contains the genetic material of the SARS-CoV-2 virus spike protein. After vaccination, the surface spike protein is produced, priming the immune system to attack the SARS-CoV-2 virus if it later infects the body.

AstraZeneca:

AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN) is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialisation of prescription medicines in Oncology, Rare Diseases and BioPharmaceuticals, including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. Please visit astrazeneca.com and follow the Company on Twitter @AstraZeneca.

References:

1. AstraZeneca PLC.COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca confirms 100% protection against severe disease, hospitalisation and death in the primary analysis of Phase III trials. [Online]. Available at: https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press-releases/2021/covid-19-vaccine-astrazeneca-confirms-protection-against-severe-disease-hospitalisation-and-death-in-the-primary-analysis-of-phase-iii-trials.html [Last accessed: 21 Mar 2021]

2. EMA assessment report, Vaxzevria. April 23rd 2021. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/referral/use-vaxzevria-prevent-covid-19-article-53-procedure-assessment-report_en.pdf [Last accessed 4th June 2021]