Cairo – Mubasher: Egypt is expected to receive a shipment of the AstraZeneca coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine in February, the Minister of Health and Population, Hala Zayed, said.

The country signed an agreement to get 50,00 doses of the vaccine from Serum Institute of India and Russia's R-Pharm, Zayed added in a statement on Wednesday.

On Sunday, Egypt launched its COVID-19 vaccination programme, with priority to the country’s healthcare staff working in isolation facilities, chest hospitals, and fever wards.

Late on Tuesday, the Ministry of Health reported 643 new COVID-19 infections, taking the tally to 163,129 with 127,433 recoveries and 9,067 deaths.