South Africa on Sunday sold a million doses of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine for distribution in 14 fellow African nations, the health minister, Zweli Mhikize, has disclosed.
The minister said in a statement that the country has ordered vaccine doses from Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer and now hopes to immunise two-thirds of the population, though so far only 183,000 doses have been administered.
South Africa last month suspended its vaccination programme, which had started with AstraZeneca jabs after doubts were raised over that vaccine’s efficacy against a local variant of Covid-19.
Dozens of European countries have also suspended the use of AstraZeneca covid vaccine, due to reported cases of blood clot.
“The first batch of vaccines that is being delivered will benefit 9 (AU) member states. The balance will be collected this week to be delivered to 5 other countries,” the statement said.
South Africa began immunising its 59 million people in early February with doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine produced in India.
A study by the Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg pointed to a “limited” efficacy of the AstraZeneca jab against the South African variant of Covid-19.
However, the World Health Organization had said the AstraZeneca can be used in all countries and against all variants.
