The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has approved the pharmaceutical company Johnson and Johnson (J&J) vaccine booster doses for all healthcare workers who received the first shot as part of the Sisonke study.
This comes after the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended a second dose of the J&J vaccine for all Americans aged 18 years and older who received a single dose.
Meanwhile, a new trial has since evaluated a booster dose given at least two months after the first dose in 31 300 participants from more than nine countries.
According to the data, vaccine efficacy against the disease was 94% in the United States and 75% globally.
In South Africa, 496 424 health workers received a dose of this vaccine to evaluate its effectiveness between February the 17th and May the 17th this year.
Linda-Gail Bekker gives update on vaccine rollout with Sisonke and J&J programme [ 10 May 2021]
Latest COVID-19 figures in South Africa
South Africa has recorded 475 new COVID-19 infections, which brings the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 2 921 589.
As per the National Department of Health, a further 47 COVID-19 related deaths have been reported, bringing total fatalities to 89 151 to date.
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