With an enthusiastic and heavily publicised response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Egypt had shown some promise over the first year of locally-endorsed social distancing and travel quarantines in Marsa Alam. This steadfast handling, however, was cut prematurely short earlier this year when Egypt did not outline a clear and cohesive national strategy for vaccine rollouts. According to research journal Elsevier, many of Egypt’s COVID-19 cases were largely unreported throughout the initial outbreak in 2020, of which several unclassified cases have exported the virus to other countries. Without a wide-reaching national campaign or overt information outlets, such as billboards, audiovisual adverts, or traditional radio, Egyptian authorities have laboured against “haphazard” vaccine distribution. Hospitals remain understaffed and without consistent, uniform procedures, as those who are most at risk or without sufficient digital literacy face the arduous task of waiting with no foreseeable solutions in sight. Despite upwards of 11.9 million vaccine doses administered, and around 4.2% of Egypt’s population vaccinated, many have criticized the number as indicative of slow progress, a lack of public awareness, and a redolent distrust of health officials. This includes a number of Egyptian health professionals who have…
