South Africa is set to begin its COVID-19 vaccination program with Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine following results from a study suggesting that the vaccine by AstraZeneca provided reduced protection against mild-to-moderate illness from the dominant variant circulating in the country.

According to a government factsheet, the J&J vaccine rollout would begin from mid-February. A senior health official stated that J&J would expedite deliveries of the vaccine doses so that the first doses are available by the end of the week.

Early data showing that the AstraZeneca vaccine does not yield significant reduction in the risk of mild-to-moderate illness due to the more contagious variant was disappointing to South Africa, and the entire continent at large… (Reuters, February 8, 2021)