According to the public prosecution, Egyptian officials arrested three people accused of dumping thousands of unused Covid-19 vaccination needles found in a water drain in a southern city last week.
“An investigative committee… found a shortage of 18 400 vaccine doses in the Minya health directorate storage inventory worth 5 023 200 pounds ($319 000),” the prosecution said late Sunday in a statement posted on its social media accounts.
According to the statement, 13 412 dosages were discovered dumped but were unsafe for use due to insufficient cooling and poor storage conditions. Another 4 988 doses have gone missing.
It didn’t specify which immunizations were involved. Minya governorate is around 200 kilometers from Cairo.
A pharmacist, a driver, and a storage inspector, all of whom worked for the health ministry, were detained.
According to the public prosecution, they are accused of “gross negligence” and “misappropriation of public funds.”
The three would be held in custody awaiting the outcome of the investigation, according to the prosecution.
Last week, photographs of the abandoned immunizations flooded social media, prompting many online users to demand accountability.
Egypt, the most populous Arab country with almost 100 million people, has vaccinated nearly seven million people, according to Cabinet spokeswoman Nader Saad.
In recent weeks, the number of daily viral infections has gradually increased, with the total number of cases surpassing 312 000, including more than 17 000 deaths.
