Prognosis
South Africa Seeks More J&J Vaccines, Offered Russian Shot
- Government in talks to buy 20 million additional J&J doses
- Local companies offer government 23 million Sputnik V shots
J&J last week said its single-shot vaccine prevented 57% of mild cases from the variant and all severe cases.
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South Africa is in talks with Johnson & Johnson to buy an additional 20 million doses of the company’s Covid-19 vaccine and has been offered supplies of Russia’s Sputnik V shot, according to a presentation the health ministry made to the cabinet.
The document, which was seen by Bloomberg, also reveals that Cape Town-based financial services company Sygnia Ltd. was in talks with the Serum Institute of India Ltd. about developing a new vaccine, conducting a trial and securing 10 million doses of it for South Africa. The presentation was dated Jan. 28 and it couldn’t be confirmed whether any of the details have since changed.