Egypt Kicks Off Vaccine Drive As France Tightens Borders
Muhammad Irfan Published January 24, 2021 | 09:10 PM
Ismailia, Egypt, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Jan, 2021 ) :Egypt, the Arab world's most populous country, began its mass coronavirus vaccination campaign Sunday, as several large nations struggled with their inoculation rollouts and France imposed new border controls.
More than 2.1 million people have been killed by Covid-19 since it emerged in late 2019, with almost 99 million cases registered worldwide, according to an AFP tally from official figures.
A doctor and a nurse were the first to receive the Chinese-made Sinopharm jab in Egypt, after President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said "healthcare workers, followed by those suffering from chronic diseases and the elderly" would be first in line.
"All healthcare workers will receive it for free, it's their right," Health Minister Hala Zayed said, adding that more than 300 doctors have died of Covid-19 in Egypt.
Zayed said Cairo had inked deals to receive vaccine shipments from British, Chinese and Russian firms, for a total of around 100 million doses -- enough for around half Egypt's population.
In Europe, France imposed a requirement for a negative PCR test for arrivals by sea and air from European Union neighbours -- a measure required for non-EU arrivals since mid-January.
France's rule does not apply to those travelling by land, including thousands of cross-border workers.
The country had by Saturday given one million people at least one vaccine dose, Prime Minister Jean Castex said four weeks into the campaign, a relatively slow ramp-up compared with leading vaccinators like Israel.
Sweden said Sunday it would prohibit entry from Norway for three weeks, after a case of the more transmissible strain that emerged in Britain was detected in Oslo.
The measure will come into effect from midnight on Monday and exceptions will be made for those living in Sweden, the interior ministry said.
- 'Worried about side effects' - Larger countries like Brazil and India have faced vaccine struggles of their own, as organisational failings and public fears over side effects hobble progress.
Isabella Ballalai, vice president of the Brazilian Society for Immunology (SBIM) charged the health ministry with "incompetence" as the country risks running out of doses as well as vital equipment like syringes.
Vaccine-sceptic President Jair Bolsonaro has been accused of raising Chinese hackles with his criticism of the country's CoronaVac shot, with experts saying he may have contributed to supply chain problems.
Thousands of people in several cities mounted protests this weekend demanding Bolsonaro's ouster.
In India, around one-third of people are not turning up for vaccine appointments, with fear of side effects high after reports of a few cases of severe reactions spread widely through the media and messaging services.
"I am very afraid. I hate needles and I am worried about side effects," 17-year-old pharma student Khushi Dhingra said with tears in her eyes as she waited in line for the vaccine at Sharda Hospital in Greater Noida, near New Delhi.
Norway's Institute of Public Health and France's ANSM medicines agency have both said there is no evidence the vaccines were to blame in the deaths of small numbers of nursing home residents who died after receiving them.
In the Gulf, the emirate of Dubai said it had slowed its rollout of the Pfizer-BioNTech jab, faced with a bottleneck in deliveries that has also hit EU countries as Pfizer upgrades a key plant in Belgium.
There were protests against anti-virus restrictions in several European cities on the weekend, including Amsterdam and Eindhoven in the Netherlands.
After a rally in Denmark's capital Copenhagen on Saturday night, police said they arrested two men on suspicion of setting a mannequin on fire made to look like Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
- New case in New Zealand - Germany said Sunday it had paid $400 million for 200,000 doses of the experimental antibody treatment used on former US President Donald Trump.
"They work like a passive vaccination. Administering these antibodies in the early stages can help high-risk patients avoid a more serious progression," Health Minister Jens Spahn told weekly Bild am Sonntag.
In New Zealand, officials on Sunday confirmed the first case of Covid-19 in the community for more than two months in a 56-year-old woman who had recently returned from Europe.
In Britain, Sky television said Kenneth Branagh would star as Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a tv drama about the country's handling of the outbreak.
Set to air on Sky Atlantic next year, director Michael Winterbottom said the show would focus on "the efforts of scientists, doctors, care home workers and policy makers to protect us from the virus."
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Senate continues discussion on Presidential address to Joint Sitting of Parliame ..
Masood Khan calls for Pak-US cooperation for regional peace
Interior Minister starts Margalla Trail Patrol for security
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 26 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 26 April 2024
ICC Womens T20 World Cup Qualifier, Match 2: Ireland Women open with Comfortable ..
Robinson, bowlers help New Zealand go 2-1 up against Pakistan
Shahzeb Chachar to hold khuli kachehri on April 26
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
Tourism must change, mayor says as Venice launches entry fee
Court adjourns Judicial Complex attack case till May 17
Nasreen Noori’s book ‘Popatan Jahra Khwab’ launched
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
Modern Education Techniques: A pathway to achieve economic development
2 hours ago -
Kite Flying: From cultural festival to deadly sport
2 hours ago -
PDMA predicts gusty wind, rain with thunder, hails
3 days ago -
Iranian president Raisi given guard of honour at PM House
4 days ago -
Intellectuals, writers accolades Naseer Mirza on his literary contribution
5 days ago -
Bahawalpur Adabi Sangat hosts memorable mushaira
5 days ago
-
Cattle farming vital to alleviate poverty in rural areas
5 days ago -
Pakistan: A land of tourism, archeological wonders
5 days ago -
Transforming education sector: from job hunters to job creators
7 days ago -
Amjad Bobby remembered on 19th death anniversary for timeless contributions to music
11 days ago -
Legendary actor Nadeem’s 26 films released on Eid-ul-Fitr days in 50 years
12 days ago -
Besant Hall Cultural Centre to celebrate evening with Sanam Marvi on 26 April
12 days ago