The first batch of 80,000 Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine jabs that touched down at OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday night will be distributed to 17 sites across the country, where the first vaccinations of healthcare workers will take place.
The sites include the country’s biggest hospital, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, and the Steve Biko Academic Hospital, in Tshwane.
In the Western Cape, the rollout will begin at Khayelitsha District Hospital where President Cyril Ramaphosa and Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize, along with Deputy Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla, will take the jabs on Wednesday afternoon.
“It gives me great pleasure to announce that the first batch of 80,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is being prepared for distribution across South Africa with immediate effect,” said Ramaphosa on Wednesday.
Ramaphosa said the batch had already been approved by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA).
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