South Africa in “tough talks” to buy Johnson and Johnson vaccine

Mkhize told the media yesterday that government has also signed up for “other” vaccines; however, he says further information will be announced at a later stage.

 

“We have indicated the 1.5 million, we also have the 12 million coming from COVAX facility and we actually have signed up for the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. We are still negotiating and have signed that up. We are going through negotiations, it is very difficult but we’re going through that." 

 

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“There are others that we have signed up for but we are not going to talk about them. We will announce them when time comes. Just to indicate that we are moving on with our program of our position of the vaccine,” said Mkhize.

 

The first batch of the AstraZeneca vaccines, which is expected to arrive in the country in January and February will be used during the roll out of the first phase of government’s plan to vaccinate frontline workers. 

 

The vaccines which have been paid for by the government through the COVAX facility are expected to land on the country’s shores in April and June.