02-17-2021, 11:26 PM
Well, good news in South Africa. The first Johnson & Johnson batch of vaccines arrived from the US. It must have lots of confidence as even the President of the country, Ramaphosa, got vaccinated today. They're focussing on Government leaders and medical staff first. Good part of Johnson & Johnson vaccine is (1) you only need one dose (2) it has proven to be effective for the South African strain of the virus (3) no need for deep freeze - it only needs regular refrigeration (4) it is relatively cheap compared with other vaccines and will sell at 10$ a dose. Someone is going to make lots of money!
South Africa received its first Johnson & Johnson 80,000 doses for free in exchange for the research it has been involved with with Johnson & Johnson. It seems to be the first country outside the US to use the vaccine.
https://ewn.co.za/2021/02/17/the-18-site...take-place
The Government of South Africa is in process of purchasing 9 million further doses of Johnson & Johnson. Not sure when that will arrive. At the same time there are plans for the vaccine to be packaged in South Africa in a partnership between a pharmaceutical company Aspen located in Port Elizabeth, South Africa and Johnson & Johnson from the US. The partnership still has to be approved, but hopes are high for packaging to start from April onwards.
https://www.businessinsider.co.za/covid-...ow-2020-12
South Africa has a population of approx 60 million people. So the 80,000 doses are really like a drop in the ocean. Will be interesting to see how the vaccine takes. Would be great if it is successful, as if it can be locally packaged, then it will provide jobs in Port Elizabeth, one of the poorest cities of South Africa.
South Africa received its first Johnson & Johnson 80,000 doses for free in exchange for the research it has been involved with with Johnson & Johnson. It seems to be the first country outside the US to use the vaccine.
https://ewn.co.za/2021/02/17/the-18-site...take-place
The Government of South Africa is in process of purchasing 9 million further doses of Johnson & Johnson. Not sure when that will arrive. At the same time there are plans for the vaccine to be packaged in South Africa in a partnership between a pharmaceutical company Aspen located in Port Elizabeth, South Africa and Johnson & Johnson from the US. The partnership still has to be approved, but hopes are high for packaging to start from April onwards.
https://www.businessinsider.co.za/covid-...ow-2020-12
South Africa has a population of approx 60 million people. So the 80,000 doses are really like a drop in the ocean. Will be interesting to see how the vaccine takes. Would be great if it is successful, as if it can be locally packaged, then it will provide jobs in Port Elizabeth, one of the poorest cities of South Africa.