South Africa to get first of 4.5 million Pfizer vaccine doses

SouthAfricawill on Sunday take delivery of thefirstbatch of its4.5millionPfizercoronavirusvaccinesas the country readies to start ramping up immunisation.

In a statement, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said 325,260doseswere scheduled to land at the country's OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg late on Sunday.

A similar number is expected weekly until the end of this month.

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"Thereafter thevaccinesupply will increase to an average of 636, 480dosesweekly from 31 May which will see us accumulating close to4.5milliondosesby the end of June," he said.

SouthAfricais the continent's worst affected country with over 1.5millioninfections, including 54,406 fatalities.

But it has vaccinated only 318,670 people, mainly health workers so far.

This was after it suspended inoculations using Johnson & Johnson anti-Covidvaccinesfor two weeks last month to vet risks over blood clots.

The resumption of the Johnson & Johnsonvaccinewill target health workers in particular.

SouthAfricaearlier this year purchased AstraZenecavaccinesand then sold them to other African countries following fears that it would be less effective against a local variant of coronavirus.

The government also said it was expecting more Johnson & Johnson jabs from a local plant of Aspen Pharmacare by mid-May.

Thedosesare ready but awaiting checks by international regulators.

"We are confident that the final outcome will be positive and that, provided there are no further disruptions, Johnson and Johnson will be in a position to release the stock from the Aspen plant... by the middle of May," said the minister.

Authorities say they have purchased enoughdosesof thevaccineto immunise at least 45millionpeople.

The government previously set a target of March 2022.