Egypt began its nationwide Covid-19 immunisation programme on Sunday, with a doctor and a nurse receiving the Chinese-made Sinopharm jab. ‘Vaccine diplomacy, logistics’ across Middle East, North AfricaPfizer or Sinopharm? In the Middle East and North Africa, novel coronavirus vaccine orders are driven by diplomatic and logistical considerations, reflecting Beijing’s growing regional influence. Other countries in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman, are also relying heavily on the Pfizer vaccine, developed by the US company in partnership with Germany’s BioNTech. “Today, with the new silk road, there is also a health silk road,” Zoubir said, referring to China’s globe-spanning infrastructure push – the Belt and Road Initiative.

Source: The North Africa Journal January 26, 2021 02:26 UTC