Another 1.6 mn-doses of Pfizer vaccines landed in Cairo Airport yesterday, the Health Ministry said in a statement. This was the second batch of a total of 5 mn Pfizer doses that Egypt is receiving as a gift from the US. The first 1.6 mn-dose batch made the trip earlier this month. Other jabs that have landed recently include 5.4 mn doses of Sinopharm and Sinovac from China in late September.

Egypt will have 70 mn doses of various covid-19 vaccines available by the end of October, Health Minister Hala Zayed said during a meeting with Egypt’s governors yesterday, according to a cabinet statement. Egypt currently has some 60.5 mn doses, the minister said, without specifying whether the remaining 9.5 mn doses would arrive from abroad, or would be locally produced.

Some 17-18 mn Egyptians have received jabs so far, Presidential Health Advisor Mohamed Awad Tag El Din said on the airwaves (watch, runtime: 7:23). The target is to raise the figure to 40 mn by the end of the year, Tag El Din said.

Travel vaccine certificates are about to get more expensive: The Health Ministry has decided to raise the cost of obtaining a QR-coded vaccine certificate for travel at all vaccination centers, according to a circular seen by Al Shorouk. Certificates for Egyptians and foreign residents travelling for tourism will now cost EGP 1k, while those travelling for work or study will have to pay EGP 250, up from the previous EGP 100 that had been mandated for Egyptians travelling for any purpose. Non-Egyptians traveling for reasons other than tourism will have to pay USD 25, up from a previous USD 10. Egyptians wishing to obtain a barcoded vaccination certificate for internal use will have to cough up EGP 100.

The Health Ministry reported 874 new covid-19 infections yesterday, up from 869 the day before. Egypt has now disclosed a total of 317,585 confirmed cases of covid-19. The ministry also reported 42 new deaths, bringing the country’s total death toll to 17,962.

The government is planning to set up vaccination centers at frequented state establishments, such as courts, metro stations, train stations, mosques, and churches, Health Minister Zayed said in the statement, in a bid to boost vaccination rates.

Egypt has also agreed to begin exports of its locally produced jabs, the minister added, without disclosing further detail.