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HEALTH-VIRUS-SAFRICA-VACCINES
S.Africa set to resume J&J vaccine rollout: minister
JOHANNESBURG, April 20, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – South Africa is days away from announcing a decision to resume inoculations with the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine, the health minister said Tuesday, following recommendations by a regulatory authority.
The country, the worst affected by the pandemic on the continent, last week suspended its vaccination drive over potential blood clotting risks reported by the United States.
At the weekend the medicines regulatory body South African Health Products Regulatory Agency (SAHPRA) advised that the vaccinations should be resumed.
“They (SAHPRA) are feeling comfortable that we can proceed,” Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said at a Johannesburg public hospital that was recently gutted by fire.
“We are quite comfortable that this matter is going to be resolved in such a way that in a few days’ time we should be able to indicate that the Johnson & Johnson process will proceed,” Mkhize said.
So far South Africa has immunised around 290,000 people, mostly health care workers, since February.
In a separate statement the health ministry said it would be able to vaccinate at least 46,2 million people out of the population of around 58 million, by the by the end of March 2022, provided manufacturers deliver on time.
So far more than 1,56 million people have contracted coronavirus, and of those 53,757 have died.
The second phase of the rollout plan, which will target essential workers and people aged over 60 years, is scheduled to begin on May 17.
BSS/AFP/IJ/2012 hrs