Sundaymail Editor
With Zimbabwe last month approving use of the Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose Covid-19 vaccine, more positive news has come by way of a recent study in neighbouring South Africa, which showed that the vaccine is 96 percent effective against preventing deaths against the fast-spreading delta variant.
Zimbabwe is already one of the leading procurers and distributors of Covid-19 vaccines on the continent.
Additional use of the J&J vaccines in the country will accelerate the national vaccination programmes as Zimbabwe aims to achieve herd immunity.
The recent trial in South Africa involved almost 480 000 health workers.
The study, known as Sisonke, provides the first large-scale evidence that the J&J vaccine works against this dominant variant, according to trial co-lead Glenda Gray.
It’s probably more protective against delta than it was with the earlier beta strain, she said in a presentation Friday.
The single-dose shot was 71 percent effective against hospitalisation and as much as 96 percent effective against death, she said.
It also demonstrated durability of eight months.
“These results show there is no need for a booster yet,” said Gray, who is president of the South African Medical Research Council.
Zimbabwe is expected to soon start receiving initial shipments of its 5 million share of the 400 million doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine secured for Africa by the African Union (AU), the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef).
The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe last month approved the emergency use of Johnson and Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine, the first live vaccine approved, in addition to the previously approved inert vaccines from China, India and Russia.
The Johnson and Johnson vaccine is the main single-shot vaccine available, so the five million doses eventually coming Zimbabwe’s way will be enough for five million people.
Zimbabwe has already paid US$7,5 million towards its share of the AU facility. – Online Reporter/ Bloomberg
Online Reporter