Up until now the vaccine was used in a clinical trial for health workers, but it can now be administered to the general population. J&J has signed agreements to provide 31-m doses of the vaccine to SA. It will provide 2.8-m doses between April and June, with the “first delivery scheduled for the second half of April”.
According to SAHPRA CEO Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela the conditions include that the vaccine is supplied and administered in accordance with the National Department of Health Covid-19 vaccination plan and applicable guidelines.
Meanwhile, Pfizer announced that a trial of its vaccine on 800 people in SA was 100% effective against the B.1.351 variant. SA is set to buy enough doses of the Pfizer vaccine for 2.8-m people.
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