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The second batch of Johnson and Johnson vaccines arrived in the country on Saturday morning.
The Health Department said the arrival of the second batch of vaccines comes as the first batch of vaccines which arrived two weeks were being administered to health workers via the Sisonke Project.
Phase 1 of the vaccine rollout strategy was put on temporary hold following concerns about the efficacy of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine against mild-moderate COVID caused by the 501.V2 variant.
However, the Department said in an earlier statement that the single-dose J&J vaccine protects against severe COVID-19 in South Africa.
“The safety and efficacy of the vaccine was assessed in the international Phase 3 study,” the Department said.
The arrival of the latest batch of vaccines comes as the Health Department said that 63 648 vaccines were administered as of Friday.
The latest Covid19 statistics indicate the cumulative number of cases at 1 510 778, total fatalities 49 784, and recoveries at 1 426 417.
