The drugs regulator in South Africa’s, SAHPRA, has approved an implementation study of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine, it said Monday.
This way South Africa can start its first first inoculations among health workers.
“SAHPRA has approved the implementation study,” the regulator said in response to Reuters questions, and that it was still reviewing its separate full market application.
Reuters noted that the first batch of J&J’s 80,000 doses are expected to arrive this week, citing President Cyril Ramaphosa as saying to lawmakers on Thursday.
In South Africa, besides J&J, Pfizer and AstraZeneca have also applied.