More Pfizer jabs from the US: Egypt has received 3.6 mn doses of Pfizer’s covid vaccine under the Gavi / Covax program from the US, the Health Ministry said in a statement yesterday.

This is our fourth Pfizer shipment from the United States: In total we have received over 8.26 mn Pfizer doses from the US, far above the 5 mn shots we were told to expect.

The Health Ministry reported 948 new covid-19 infections yesterday, up from 927 the day before. Egypt has now disclosed a total of 330,084 confirmed cases of covid-19. The ministry also reported 57 new deaths, bringing the country’s total death toll to 18,592.

The US Food and Drug Authority authorized Pfizer and BioNTech’s covid-19 vaccine for children aged 5-11, a move that will make the shot available for 28 mn children across the country, the regulator said in a statement on Friday. This is the first covid jab in the US that has been given the green light for use on children.

US pharma company Merck will allow other manufacturers to produce its anti-covid pill without royalties in a move that should provide developing countries with easier access to its antiviral medication, it said in a statement.