South Africa Could Receive 20 Million More Vaccine Doses From Johnson & Johnson, Minister Says

The South African government’s deal with Johnson & Johnson for 11 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine includes an option for an additional 20 million doses depending on stock availability, its Health Minister said.

“The deal was signed for 11 million doses with an option for an additional 20 million doses depending on availability of stocks,” Minister Zweli Mkhize said in a written response to a question from a lawmaker seen by Reuters on Friday.

The country began its vaccination campaign last month with J & J’s single-dose vaccine after suspending plans to administer AstraZeneca’s double-dose vaccine.

A small test showed that AstraZeneca injection offered minimal protection against mild to moderate disease of the local dominant variant of the coronavirus.

The J&J injection is being administered to up to 500,000 healthcare workers in a research study to further evaluate it in the field before a larger-scale rollout is expected to begin in the second quarter. Local pharmaceutical company Aspen will manufacture doses of J&J under license.

Mkhize added in his written response that the J&J vaccine was cost-effective for reasons including that it is effective against the 501Y.V2 variant first identified in South Africa late last year, is stored at refrigerator temperature, and is a high-dose vaccine. only. .