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Johnson & Johnson to supply Africa with 220 mln COVID-19 doses

Johnson & Johnson to supply Africa with 220 mln COVID-19 doses

Johnson & Johnson shared its plans on supplying Africa with 220 million anti-COVID doses of vaccines soon. 

While pandemic is still killing people across the globe, the WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warns rich countries against so-called vaccine nationalism. Last week, WHO chief said the inequitable distribution of the life-saving jab was “becoming more grotesque every day.”

On Monday, Janssen Pharmaceutical has entered into a deal with the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust to make available up to 220 million doses of its one-shot corona jab.

The J&J drug plans to be delivered to the African Union’s 55 member states, the first shipment will begin in the Q3 of the year. However, the one-shot drug should grant approval by the various African FDAs.

Commenting on the deal, Alex Gorsky, Johnson & Johnson chief, said that J&J has recognized that no one is safe until everyone is safe. The pharma giant said Monday that both sides expect to enter a finalized agreement, no date nor timeline was given yet.

“Our support for the COVAX Facility, combined with countries and regions, will help accelerate global progress toward ending the COVID-19 pandemic,” Gorsky added, according to UPI.