Covid-19: Johnson & Johnson vaccine will arrive in Africa in September
A woman waits to be tested at Nkembo Medical Center in Libreville, Gabon.
Steeve Jordan / AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
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In the fight against Covid-19, up to 400 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be delivered to African Union countries.
This was announced on Monday, March 29, the American pharmaceutical giant.
Delivery of these vaccines by Johnson & Johnson is expected to begin as early as September, as the virus has killed more than 120,000 people on the continent and infected nearly 4.2 million people.
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After months of negotiations between the African Union and the pharmaceutical group Johnson & Johnson, an agreement has finally been reached.
220 million doses of the serum will thus be distributed to the 55 member countries of the African Union, starting in September.
The countries concerned will then be able to order 180 million additional doses which will be sent by 2022.
On the continent, we welcome this agreement.
To get rid of the virus, the African continent needs to vaccinate "
at least 60% of its population,
" said John Nkengasong, director of the African Centers for Disease Prevention and Control.
Remember that this vaccine requires only one injection and that this should facilitate vaccination.
According to the Cameroonian virologist, each dose should cost around $ 10.
Another advantage of this Johnson & Johnson vaccine is that it can be stored at refrigerator temperatures rather than freezers, which will make it easier to distribute.
The American giant has also concluded an agreement with the South African pharmaceutical group Aspen to produce and distribute this vaccine on the continent.
South Africa has already started its vaccination campaign with the same vaccine more than a month ago.
Read also: Covid-19: the African Union obtains 270 million vaccines for the continent
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Coronavirus
African Union
Vaccines