The vaccines are here! There are currently more than 50 coronavirus vaccines in the works. As of last month, Egypt started to distribute the Chinese vaccine, Sinopharm and as of today the AstraZeneca vaccine will be available in Egypt.
AstraZeneca:
On Sunday, the 31st of January, the new vaccine AstraZeneca will be available in Egypt; with around 20 million shots. The vaccine is made by Oxford University in Cambridge, England. Guaranteeing a 95% effectiveness rate, the vaccine can be given to people of 18 years of age and older. The vaccination course should be split into two doses, with 4 to 12 weeks apart between the two shots.
Hope on this vaccine remains high due to its capability in being stored in relatively normal refrigerated temperatures between 2° to 8°C. It’s an ideal option given the the high temperatures in Egypt in order to sustain this heat! In addition, it can be stored for approximately six months. This vaccine will be available in an abundant proportion for Egyptians. However, medical workers will be prioritized due to their fight on the front lines and becoming more vulnerable to COVID-19.
May the best vaccine win:
The Sinopharm vaccine was distributed to over 1315 medical workers last month, according to Egypt Independent. Compared to AstraZeneca’s 95% efficacy, Sinopharm’s efficacy rate stands at 79%. Although both can be stored at refrigerated temperatures, Sinopharm is still less effective. Studies have shown that it is also less effective than vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna; all of which also have an efficacy rate of 95%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
While there are several factors that contribute to deciding which vaccine is the most efficient; the vaccines created by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Oxford’s AstraZeneca remain the most opportune yet. Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine is stored at temperatures of -70°C, Moderna’s at -20°C, and AstraZeneca withstands higher temperatures for longer durations.
It seems like hope can be restored amidst the second wave of the coronavirus, and AstraZeneca certainly plays a role in this!
