Subscribe
AEC Quarterly
No Result
View All Result
  • Big Story
  • Opinion
  • Energy
  • Interviews
  • Africa
  • Investment
  • Big Story
  • Opinion
  • Energy
  • Interviews
  • Africa
  • Investment
No Result
View All Result
AEC Quarterly
No Result
View All Result

South Africa opts for Johnson & Johnson vaccine ― Minister

AFP

2 years ago
Reading Time: 2 mins read
South Africa opts for Johnson & Johnson vaccine ― Minister

vaccine

South Africa will begin its coronavirus inoculation campaign with Johnson & Johnson vaccines, the health minister said on Wednesday, after withholding the Oxford/AstraZeneca formula over doubts about effectiveness.

The country worst-hit by the pandemic in Africa has suspended its vaccine rollout — meant to begin with Oxford/AstraZeneca this week — after scientists found the shot failed to prevent mild and moderate illness caused by a local virus variant known as 501Y.V2.

“Given the outcomes of the efficacy studies…, (government) will continue with the planned phase one vaccination using the Johnson & Johnson vaccines instead of the AstraZeneca vaccine,” Health Minister Zweli Mkhize told a press briefing.

“The Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been proven effective against the 501Y.V2 variant.”

Related articles

Cholera Outbreak hits 23 states in Nigeria

Guinean President Alpha Condé deposed in military coup

 He did not say when immunisation would begin.

To date South Africa has ordered nine million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccines, of which a small shipment is expected to arrive next week.However, the first consignment will probably be used as “research stock,” Mkhize said.

South African pharmaceutical giant Aspen, a contracted Johnson & Johnson vaccine manufacturer, is striving to produce its first doses next month.

“They are very determined to fast-track this production in South Africa,” Mkhize said, adding that the stock would then be available in April.

South Africa’s vaccination delay has set back an ambitious aim to inoculate around 40 million people — 67 per cent of the population — by the end of 2021.

The country was slow to catch on to the global vaccine scramble and only received its first jabs on February 1.

The one million AstraZeneca shots were produced by the Serum Institute of India, from which an additional 500,000 doses have been purchased.

South Africa is considering either selling or swapping these doses with countries facing the original strain of coronavirus, said the minister, insisting that nothing would go to waste.

Scientists have suggested administering some of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine to several thousand people in South Africa to see if it can still prevent severe infection from the new variant.

Additional vaccines are being secured from US drugmaker Pfizer, and through the World Health Organisation-backed Covax facility and the African Union.

South Africa is emerging from a second wave of coronavirus infections largely fuelled by its virus variant, said to be more transmissible than the original form. The country has recorded close to 1.5 million cases and over 46,800 deaths.

AFP

Source: aecquarterly
Tags: Johnson & JohnsonSouth AfricaVaccine
Share122Tweet77Share31
Previous Post

UK government to supply 16million COVID-19 jabs to Nigeria

Next Post

African economies will bounce back over the next two years-Adesina

Related Posts

cholera outbreak in Nigeria
Africa

Cholera Outbreak hits 23 states in Nigeria

September 7, 2021
President Alpha Condé
Africa

Guinean President Alpha Condé deposed in military coup

September 6, 2021
First malaria vaccine rollout commences in Africa
Africa

Groundbreaking Malaria Vaccine is ready for use

September 3, 2021
Zamfara kidnapping crisis
Latest News

Zamfara shuts down schools completely after mass abduction of students

September 3, 2021
Vaccination in Uganda
Covid-19

State of COVID-19 in Uganda

August 30, 2021
South Sudan President and rival
Africa

South Sudan Leaders propose merge of Rival Armed Forces

August 30, 2021

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Popular Post

  • 5 Young African Entrepreneurs to look out for in 2021

    5 Young African Entrepreneurs to look out for in 2021

    317 shares
    Share 127 Tweet 79
  • Meet Cira-O3, Egypt’s COVID-19 Robot Nurse

    313 shares
    Share 125 Tweet 78
  • Winning in the African Oil and Gas Industry

    312 shares
    Share 125 Tweet 78
  • Africa claims Top 3 spots for the Highest Concentration of Women Entrepreneurs in the World

    312 shares
    Share 125 Tweet 78
  • Assessing Africa’s Digital Response Strategy to COVID-19

    311 shares
    Share 124 Tweet 78

Recommended

Is a debt crisis looming in Africa?

Is a debt crisis looming in Africa?

November 2, 2020
Obama’s Kenyan ‘granny’ dies aged 99

Obama’s Kenyan ‘granny’ dies aged 99

March 29, 2021

Sign Up For AEC Quarterly Newsletter

Get our most compelling stories delivered straight to your inbox.

AEC Quarterly

AEC Quarterly is a great read for investors looking for new opportunities with articles and reports exploring growth, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit.

  • Big Story
  • Africa
  • Opinion
  • Energy
  • Finance
  • Interviews
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Get Featured in AEC Quarterly Magazine

© 2020 AEC Quarterly. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

No Result
View All Result
  • Big Story
  • Opinion
  • Energy
  • Interviews
  • Africa
  • Investment

© 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

Go to mobile version