We’ve received our largest yet batch of Moderna jabs: 3.5 mn doses of Moderna vaccines arrived at Cairo Airport through the Gavi / Covax program on Friday, according to a Health Ministry statement. The shipment follows our first ever batch of 784k Moderna doses donated by Canada last week. The Health Ministry announced earlier in October that Egypt would receive a total of 8 mn doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines from the US. As of the end of October, Egypt has received 8.25 mn Pfizer jabs through that program.

The Health Ministry reported 909 new covid-19 infections yesterday, down from 922 the day before. Egypt has now disclosed a total of 336,582 confirmed cases of covid-19. The ministry also reported 62 new deaths, bringing the country’s total death toll to 19,011.

IN GLOBAL COVID NEWS-

Pfizer will apply to have its antiviral covid pill approved for emergency use in the US, after a late-stage trial found it cut the risk of hospitalization or death in high-risk patients by 89% according to a company statement. A rival offering from Merck was approved for use in the UK last week.

Pfizer shares jumped 7% on the news, with travel and tourism companies also receiving a market boost, while shares in rivals Moderna and Merck plummeted 25% and 9%, respectively, the Financial Times reported.

Sinovac’s covid jab could be safe for children as young as 6 months old, according to preliminary data from experiments conducted by the company, it said in a statement. The first two phases of the clinical trial showed that the vaccine is safe for children between the age of 3 and 17. The company said that it will continue its research on vaccinating 6-month-olds in efforts to provide a stronger scientific basis for countries to safely start vaccinating young children.

(EDITOR‘S NOTE: This story was amended on 11 November, 2021 to reflect that Pfizer had not yet applied to the FDA for emergency approval of its antiviral covid pill at the time of publication.)