The Director of the Vaccination Department at the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), Abdel Basset Asmio, confirmed that the Supreme Advisory Committee had approved the provision of the AstraZeneca vaccine as the second dose administered to those who had the Sputnik V first dose, following its late arrival.

Asmio added in a press statement that the available quantity suffices, following the arrival of 117,000 doses of AstraZeneca, noting that they are awaiting an estimated quantity of 140,000 doses due to arrive this week.

He explained that there is still a quantity available from the initial shipment of the Sputnik vaccine, estimated at 900,000 doses, saying that the specified acceptable period between both doses is up to six months, however, it is preferable to receive the second dose after a two-month period since the first dose is administered.