Explainer: What we know about the variant in India as coronavirus sweeps South Asia

The European Union is willing to see its COVID-19 vaccine contract with AstraZeneca fulfilled three months later than agreed, providing the company delivers 120 million doses by the end of June, a lawyer representing the bloc said on Tuesday.

Federal Health regulators in the US have authorised the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children. The Food and Drug Administration expanded its Emergency Use Authorization to include millions of children aged 12 to 15 years. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on civil society organisations to mobilise international support for wider access to technologies needed to produce vaccines and medicines.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect communities worldwide, the exposure of Emergency Medical and Rescue Services (EMRS) to the virus has raised many concerns.

The World Health Organisation has emphasized the importance of ensuring societies across Africa be provided with coronavirus vaccines in efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The South African Medical Research Council says government is working to ensure more coronavirus vaccinations will reach healthcare workers in rural areas.

The Limpopo Department of Health resumed the COVID-19 vaccination program last week after it was halted last month for safety concerns.

State Security Minister, Ayanda Dlodlo, says the Western Cape is geared to continue with the Covid-19 vaccination programme for both health care workers and the general population when the country starts its second phase of vaccinations later this month.

The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) says they have strengthened their vaccine safety monitoring in line with the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) regulations.

The first batch of more than 325 000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine arrived at the OR Tambo Airport late on Sunday night.

The South African Health Products Authority (SAHPRA) says recipients of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine will be informed of the possibility of extremely rare blood clots developing, once the injection is administered.

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has confirmed that government will resume the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in its Sisonke trial on Wednesday.

Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde, has called on members of the public to register for the vaccine roll out via online platforms.

Limpopo premier Stan Mathabatha has launched the electronic registration for COVID-19 vaccine for elderly citizens from 60 years and above.

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize says work to establish a No-Fault Compensation Fund has started. Once established, the fund will deal with medical complaints linked to COVID-19 vaccines.

The South African Medical Association says there was no need for the Johnson and Johnson coronavirus vaccine programme to be suspended in South Africa.

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) says it expects government to lift the pause on the rollout of the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine in the country later this week.  

Strengthened screening and monitoring of participants, who are at high risk of a blood clotting disorder, are among the conditions the regulator says should be met before South Africa resumes the administering of the vaccine.

Scientists at Johnson & Johnson on Friday refuted an assertion in a major medical journal that the design of their COVID-19 vaccine, which is similar AstraZeneca’s, may explain why both have been linked to very rare brain blood clots in some vaccine recipients.

Government says it aims to eventually vaccinate 250 000 people per day at various sites.

Business for South Africa says the country's business sector has been mobilised to assist the government with resources to strengthen and speed up phase 2 of the vaccination rollout programme.

Business for South Africa says the country's business sector has been mobilised to assist government with resources, to strengthen and speed up phase two of the vaccination rollout programme.

Essential workers, persons in congregate settings, people over 60 years and those over 18 years with comorbidities will receive the shots in the second round of vaccinations.

The Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) is calling on health workers who have already received their dose of the Johnson& Johnson vaccine to be closely monitored.

Africa CDC says it continues to recommend the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine to countries across the continent - as the jab's benefits outweigh the risks.

Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize has told Parliament that Johnson and Johnson is refusing to sign off the supply of a further 20 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine unless it receives a letter from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) endorsing the local investment it has made in Aspen pharmaceuticals. 

The Co-Chair of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19, Barry Schoub, has sought to explain potential reasons behind the rare occurrence of blood clots forming - following the administering of a vaccine.  

Chairperson of the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), Professor Helen Rees, says the decision to halt the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine rollout is due to extreme safety precautions in the country.

The South African Medical Association has welcomed Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize's decision to temporarily halt the rollout of the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine while investigations into reports of rare blood clotting continue.

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority says it will continue evaluating the safety and watching world developments regarding the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.