By Spy Uganda Correspondent
South Africa: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday became one of the first people to receive a COVID-19 vaccination in the country that has by far the highest confirmed virus caseload in Africa.
Ramaphosa received the vaccine as the country begins the rollout of Johnson & Johnson jabs.
He was injected in front of the cameras in Khayelitsha District Hospital in Cape Town and later tweeted: “Taking the vaccine was quick, easy and not so painful.
“I urge all our healthcare workers to register to receive their vaccinations as they are our first line of defence against the coronavirus pandemic.” Ramaphosa said
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize and other healthcare workers were also vaccinated with first batch of 80,000 of the Johnson & Johnson doses which arrived in the country on Tuesday evening.
“This day represents a real milestone for us as South Africans, that finally the vaccines are here, and they are being administered,” he added after receiving the injection.
Africa’s worst-hit country had been due to start its vaccine rollout last week but it was delayed because of concerns over the effectiveness of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which it had intended to use, against a fast-spreading coronavirus variant discovered in South Africa.
About Johnson& Johnson Vaccine
Johnson & Johnson is a COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by Janssen Vaccines, which is part of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) in the Netherlands and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and It is a human adenovirus viral vector vaccine.
On 29 January 2021, Janssen announced that it was 66% effective in a one-dose regimen in preventing symptomatic COVID-19, with an 85% efficacy in preventing severe COVID-19.
It can remain stable for an estimated timeframe of two years at −20 °C (−4 °F). The vaccine can be stored at least for three months in a refrigerator at temperatures of 2 to 8 °C (36 to 46 °F)
Johnson & Johnson vaccine is single-dose shot it is also considerably easier to administer according to scientists.
