Johnson & Johnson Officially Set To Boost Africa’s COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout With 400m Doses

AFRICA’S COVID-19 vaccination programme got a boost as pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson, J&J, announced it will supply up to 400 million doses of its single-shot COVID-19 vaccine to the African Union.

The supplies will help Africa reach its target of vaccinating at least 60 percent of the population, to contain the spread of the coronavirus. The African Vaccine Acquisition Trust Team, AVATT, has already signed an agreement with Johnson & Johnson for the delivery of the vaccine doses.

The agreement entails that 55 member states of the AU will take delivery, from the beginning of the third quarter of 2021, up to 200 million doses of the vaccine. Additional 180 million doses will be made available in 2022, making it a combined total of up to 400 million doses of the vaccine. Speaking on the development, Cyril Ramaphosa, South African president, who is the chairman of AVATT, said the agreement is historic and a significant milestone in the protection of the health of Africans.

“This settlement is a huge milestone in shielding the fitness of all Africans. It is likewise a powerful demonstration of African harmony and of what we are able to achieve thru a partnership between the nation zone, the private zone, and worldwide establishments that placed humans first,” Ramaphosa stated. Alex Gorsky, chairman/CEO, Johnson & Johnson, said: “Our aid for the COVAX Facility, mixed with supplementary agreements with nations and areas, will assist boost up international development closer to finishing the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The Director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Professor Peter Piot, said: “I’m thrilled at this agreement between J&J and the African Union which is a recreation-converting moment in Africa’s reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Combined with the five hundred million doses furnished through COVAX for low and center-earnings countries, this deal ought to ensure all African adults will get hold of a COVID19 vaccine. “I desire this settlement is a catalyst for further motion that ensures fair and equitable get entry to to successful COVID-19 vaccines, one of the most urgent problems we are facing on this pandemic.”