Palestinian authorities on Monday received 500,000 doses of Egypt-made Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines to combat the spread of COVID-19 in the coastal enclave Gaza Strip.

Carrying the VACSERA-Sinovac label, the batch was manufactured by Egypt's Holding Company for Biological Products and Vaccines and arrived in Gaza through its southern Rafah border crossing from Egypt.

The shipment was received by senior officials of the Palestinian health ministry at the border crossing. Ashraf Abu Mhadi, director-general of pharmacy, said the ministry thanks those who contributed to immunizing the Palestinian community.

Abu Mhadi told Xinhua that the vaccines would play a key role in boosting the immunity of Palestinians in Gaza against the virus.

"The vaccines came at the right time, especially that the Gaza Strip, in which more than two million people live, is facing the peak of the fourth wave of coronavirus," he said.

He noted that the vaccines would help prevent the severe complications resulting from the infections, and called for foreign donations of medical supplies to help relieve the severe shortage.