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CAPE TOWN, March 12 (Reuters) - The South African
government's agreement with Johnson & Johnson for 11
million COVID-19 vaccine doses includes an option for an
additional 20 million doses depending on the availability of
stock, its health minister said.
"The agreement has been signed off for 11million doses with
an option for an additional 20m doses based on availability of
stock," Minister Zweli Mkhize said in a written reply to a
question from a lawmaker seen by Reuters on Friday.
The country kicked off its vaccination campaign last month
with J&J's single-dose vaccine after suspending plans to
administer AstraZeneca's double-dose vaccine.
A small trial showed the AstraZeneca shot offered minimal
protection against mild to moderate illness from the dominant
local coronavirus variant.
The J&J shot is being given 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 start in the second
quarter. Local pharmaceutical company Aspen will be
manufacturing J&J doses under licence.
Mkhize added in his written reply 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, it is stored at fridge temperature and it is a
single-dose vaccine.
(Reporting by Wendell Roelf
Writing by Alexander Winning
Editing by Catherine Evans)
