Airport staff unload a vaccine shipment at Cairo Airport.

Gulf Today Report

The UAE has gifted large quantities of the Sinopharm vaccine to Egypt.

The Egyptian Ministry of Health received the first shipment of the coronavirus vaccine, produced by Chinese drug giant Sinopharm, at Cairo International Airport on Thursday night.

It is believed that the first batch contains 50,000 vaccine shots.

Acting Emirati Ambassador to Egypt Mariam Al-Kaabi coordinated the arrival of the shipment and expressed great pleasure.

She said: “The relationship between the UAE and Egypt is one of brotherhood and solidarity. It makes us feel that we stand in one place.”

She continued: "The UAE offered a gift and support to Egypt and its people, stressing that the relationship between Egypt and the UAE dates back to history.”

She said: “We hope that we will live up to the responsibility entrusted to us. To make this fraternal cooperation a success; And highlighting the magnitude of the friendliness and love that the Emirates, leadership and people, have for their brothers in Egypt.”

A vial and a medical syringe are seen in front of a displayed China’s Sinopharm logo in this illustration. AFP

"Egypt is witnessing a historic day receiving the first shipments of vaccine ... the vaccine is 100 per cent free of charge," Egyptian Health Minister Hala Zayed said at a press conference at Cairo airport after the shipment's arrival.

Health ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed said in a statement that the government would first vaccinate healthcare workers, particularly those who deal with COVID-19 cases. He said they would receive two doses of the vaccine over 21 days.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Health had said: "The priority in distributing the vaccine will be for health sector workers, with priority given to workers in isolation and hospitals, and patients with tumours and kidney failure, pointing out that the vaccine is administered in the shoulder muscle in two doses separated by 21 days."