Other vaccines have been procured amid J&J pause, assures Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa has assured South Africans that the government has secured other vaccine supplies following the temporary suspension of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine rollout.

The suspension of the J&J vaccine is a precautionary measure, and we are working closely with our scientists and the manufacturers to ensure the safety and efficacy of the vaccines we use.

Ramaphosa emphasized that the country’s vaccination programme remains a priority and that alternative arrangements have been made to maintain momentum. He noted that the government is in constant communication with international partners to secure additional doses of other approved vaccines.

We have already procured other vaccines that are currently being distributed, and we are confident that our vaccination targets will still be met despite this temporary setback.

The President urged citizens to remain calm and continue to follow health protocols while the regulatory authorities conduct their review of the J&J vaccine data.