Johnson & Johnson says it’s agreed to provide up to 400 million doses of its one-dose COVID-19 vaccine to African countries, starting this summer.
The pharmaceutical company under its agreement with the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust, noted the company will provide up to 220 million vaccine doses for the African Union’s 55 member states, and delivery will begin in the third quarter of 2021.
South African pharmaceutical company Aspen Pharmacare, a part of J&J’s global supply and manufacturing network for its vaccine, will support vaccine shipments to the African Union.
On March 12, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was approved by World Health Organization for emergency use, paving the way for the one-shot dose to be used as part of the United Nation’s international vaccine distribution effort.
Respective regulatory bodies within the continent still have to give their nods for the vaccine to be used in their countries.