Egypt approves Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine for 12 to 15-year-olds

National airline Egyptair suspends flights to Johannesburg in South Africa

Egypt has approved Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine for children aged 12 to 15. Photo: AP

Egypt on Sunday authorised Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine for children aged 12 to 15, the Cabinet said.

The step effectively lowers the minimum age of eligibility to receive the two-shot vaccine in Egypt, which was 15 previously.

Meanwhile, national carrier Egyptair announced it suspended flights to Johannesburg in South Africa, after the World Health Organisation classed the new coronavirus Omicron strain as a variant “of concern”.

Travellers to Egypt via indirect flights from South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and eSwatini will have to take rapid coronavirus tests. Anyone who tests positive will have to turn back to their countries, sources at Egyptair told Egypt Today.

Arrivals from these countries who test negative for the rapid test will have to self-isolate at home for seven days and then take a PCR test after the quarantine period. Travellers will have to sign self-quarantine agreement before they take the flight to Egypt, the sources said.