South Africa: doubts over two million Johnson & Jo vaccines
Several million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine were contaminated with components of other vaccines at a plant in Baltimore, United States.
GREG BAKER AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
South Africa must set aside 2 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Several million doses of this vaccine were contaminated with components of other vaccines at a plant in Baltimore, United States.
At least 60 million doses must be thrown away, according to US authorities.
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With our correspondent in Johannesburg,
Romain Chanson
Until a few months ago, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was the light at the end of the tunnel.
Thanks to a partnership, the American vaccine is assembled and bottled locally in Port Elizabeth in the factory of the pharmaceutical giant Aspen.
Doses that will not leave the warehouse: 2 million vaccines are suspected of having been contaminated and could be thrown in the trash.
The South African health products regulatory authority is expected to deliver its opinion soon.
As compensation, a batch of 300,000 doses will be imported from the United States due to a health emergency.
South Africa has vaccinated only 3% of its target population and the country has entered its third epidemic wave.
"
This is a step backwards in our vaccination program
," acknowledged the acting Minister of Health.
This new delay and this possible waste is also a hard blow for the continent.
Johnson & Johnson has pledged 400 million doses to the African Union.
After the AstraZeneca vaccine fiasco, sold by South Africa, because it was not considered effective enough against the local variant, the country is therefore suffering a new setback in its vaccine campaign
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South Africa
Coronavirus
Vaccines