The Ministry of Education and Technical Education today announced in a circular sent to all education directorates and departments nationwide that vaccination against COVID-19 for all those working in schools is mandatory.
The circular said that all education administrations should form committees tasked with compiling databases concerning the staff of public, private and international schools under their jurisdiction. A database would include the names of every worker or staff member in the schools concerned, and data relevant to their COVID-19 vaccination: whether they have been fully vaccinated, administered only the first dose of the vaccine or none at all; or whether or not they have applied to take the vaccine.
The circular said administrations should notify those who have not taken the vaccine that 7 September 2021 is the deadline to apply for vaccination. None vaccinated workers or staff will not be allowed into school premises during the upcoming scholastic year which starts on 10 October 2021.
Earlier this month, President Sisi had issued directives to inaugurate an executive plan to vaccinate those working in the field of education before the start of the academic year, in order to ensure a year free of coronavirus-panic.
Egypt recently received millions of doses of Sinopharm, Sinovac, Sputnik, AstraZeneca, vaccines; as well as Johnson & Johnson’s single dose vaccine. The most recent shipment landed in Cairo last 13 August and consisted of some 1.76 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine, through the COVAX initiative launched by WHO, GAVI international vaccine alliance, and the UNICEF.
Last July, Egypt started production of VACSERA-Sinovak vaccine; according to Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, production is expected to reach 40 million doses before yearend.
Watani International
18 August 2021