South Africa set to roll out 31m J&J COVID-19 Vaccine shots after contractual dispute

*South African Government and vaccine producer Johnson & Johnson have settled their disagreement over COVID-19 Vaccine contractual disagreement without compromising the former’s position on what it earlier described as the latter’s ‘unreasonable demands’

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

Sequel to the resolution of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccine contractual spat between the two parties,

South Africa now plans to begin issuing the US drugmaker Johnson & Johnson’s Coronavirus Vaccine shots for immunisation to the general public May 2021, says agency report.

Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Acting Minister in the South African Presidency, told reporters after the cabinet’s bi-monthly meeting Thursday, April 22, that the outstanding matters relating to the order for 31 million doses were resolved “without compromising the position of South Africa.”

ConsumerConnect had reported that South African Health Minister Zweli Mkhize told parliament last week that J&J would not sign off on the deal until it received greater assurance of support from the state.

The terms insisted on by the company were at times “unreasonable,” Health Minister Mkhize had said.

Meanwhile, following the resolution of their dispute, a first batch of 1 million J&J COVID-19 Vaccine shots being produced at an Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited plant in the Eastern Cape province of South Afrca is expected to be delivered by April 26, Acting Minister Ntshavheni said.

The rollout of shots to people over the age of 60 and other vulnerable groups, however, is slated to begin May 17.

Previously, South Africa had ordered 30 million of the two-dose vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE, which alongside the J&J version should be enough for more than two thirds of the population of about 60 million, report stated.

South Africa also had vaccinated 292,623 health workers with the single-dose J&J shots under a drug trial before ‘pausing’ the programme amid concern over a link to blood clots.

The country’s medicines regulator has recommended the trial be resumed once specific conditions are met, and Ntshavheni said the health department would make an announcement about when that will happen.

She noted: “The temporary suspension in South Africa was in line with government’s commitment to ensure that comprehensive safety measures are undertaken regarding the vaccine rollout.

“The reviewed data confirmed that South Africa has not experienced any rare blood clots with the already vaccinated health-care workers.”