A number clergy from the Coptic Orthodox Church in Alexandria have been given the Chinese produced COVID-19 vaccine Sinopharm. All in all, they numbered 130 and included Anba Elaryion, Bishop-General of West Alexandria Churches, and 129 Alexandria priests.
The clergy, who had registered their names on the Ministry of Health’s website for those eligible for and requiring vaccines, were divided into two groups who were vaccinated on two successive days. They will all take a second dose of the vaccine in three weeks’ time.
The vaccination procedure took place in the wake of a visit by health officials to the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate in Alexandria. Health Minister Aide Said al-Saafan, together with a number of senior officials, were received by Fr Abra’am Emil, deputy head of the patriarchate; and Fr Luqa Abdel- Massih who is in charge of the Church’s hospitals in Alexandria. The two sides discussed methods of cooperation, and the role of the Church in raising awareness on COVID-19 and the vaccine.
Starting last February, Egypt has been receiving successive shipments of Sinopharm vaccine as donations from China. The most recent was a 300,000- dose shipment that arrived at Cairo International Airport two days ago.
Egypt receives 300,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine donated by China