South Africa to Launch Janssen's COVID-19 Vaccine

South African health leaders announced during a digital news conference broadcast via Youtube on February 10, 2021, the country would soon administer the experimental COVID-19 vaccine produced by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a Johnson and Johnson company.

South African Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize stated the Janssen vaccine “has been proven effective against the 501Y.V2 variant and the necessary approval processes for use in South Africa are underway.”

In a statement to The Hill, Johnson & Johnson said it is in “advanced discussions with the South African government. We are committed to addressing the needs of the most vulnerable and at-risk populations worldwide and to supporting a further clinical understanding of the variants to help stop their spread."

On January 13, 2021, the NEJM published Interim Results of Phase 1–2a Trial,' which stated: 'The interim analysis of our phase 1–2a trial showed that the Ad26.COV2.S vaccine (JNJ-78436735) had an acceptable safety and reactogenicity profile and was immunogenic after a single vaccination with either the low or high dose.'