Egypt calls for equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has called for renewed international efforts to fight the Covid-19 pandemic and assistance for developing countries.

JOHANNESBURG, April 19 (ANA) – Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has called for renewed international efforts to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly the availability of vaccines.

Egypt Independent reported on Sunday that Shoukry made these remarks during a virtual meeting hosted by the United Nations Economic and Social Council in New York on “A Vaccine for All.”

He spoke of the difficulties that the international multilateral system faced to equally distribute vaccines and how many countries were struggling to access them.

He also urged the international community to continue providing the necessary financial support to allow for fair vaccine access across the globe.

In addition, he called for support for developing countries to grow their vaccine-manufacturing capabilities to make them accessible to Africa.

He also mentioned the challenges of export restrictions on vaccine manufacturers, which he said, saw high-income countries monopolising the production of vaccines and extending the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Arab News reported that Egypt is experiencing its third wave of the virus.

According to the publication, Ashraf Hatem, head of the health affairs committee in the Egyptian parliament and a member of the supreme committee for respiratory viruses of the Ministry of Higher Education, indicated that the number of coronavirus cases at university hospitals was increasing daily.

He advised citizens to adhere to precautionary measures, respect the rules of social distancing, wear protective face masks and avoid family visits.

In its latest update, Egypt has reported 216,334 coronavirus cases, with 163,479 recoveries and 12,738 deaths.

– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher