Gov’t set to begin rollout of US J&J COVID-19 vaccine tomorrow

JUBA – South Sudan is expected to start the nationwide rollout of the U.S Johnson & Johnson vaccine this week after receiving 152,950 doses last month.

The single-shot Johnson and Johnson vaccine was donated to South Sudan by the United States government via the COVAX facility on 14 September this year.

Speaking to reporters during the routine Sunday weekly briefing on COVID-19 at Emergency Operation Center (EOP) in Juba, Dr. John Rumunu Acting COVID-19 Incident Manager said the rollout will commence on 8^th October in Juba.

“As you all know we received 152,000 doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. The Ministry of Health and partners have been planning for its deployment, and we will now start the vaccination J and J on 8 October,” Dr. Rumunu told reporters in Juba on Sunday.

Dr. Rumunu disclosed the Ministry of Health has stopped vaccination against COVID-19 after it exhausted the supply of second doses of AstraZeneca vaccines it received on 31 August this year.

“I am happy to report that 91 percent of this has been deployed and now we have zero doses in the cold chain. We ended the last batch vaccination on 30 September, no single vaccine expired,” he said.

He disclosed that the country is set to receive third doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine this month.

“The country has got notification of arrival of more AstraZeneca vaccine in October; people who are due for the second dose will receive their second dose as plan,” he said.

On March 25, South Sudan received 132,000 doses of the Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine through the COVAX Facility and a second batch of 59,520 AstraZeneca vaccines on 31 August

On September 14, South Sudan also received 152,950 doses of single-dose Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccines donated by the USA.

South Sudan has so far reported 12,035 infections, 11,617 recoveries, and 117 deaths.