South Africa scraps Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine plans with healthcare workers to get Johnson & Johnson jab

The single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine is still being tested internationally and has not been approved in any country

A vial of the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine. File picture

South Africa has scrapped plans to use the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine because it “does not prevent mild to moderate disease” of the variant that has spread widely in the country, the government said.

Health minister Zweli Mkhize announced that front-line healthcare workers will be given the unapproved Johnson & Johnson vaccine from next week as part of a study to see what protection it provides, particularly against the South African variant.