The African Union has dropped its plans to buy Covid-19 vaccines from the Serum Institute of India (SII) and considering Johnson & Johnson vaccine as another option.
· According to reports, The African Union has dropped its plans to buy Covid-19 vaccines from the Serum Institute of India (SII) and considering Johnson & Johnson vaccine as another option.
· The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine codenamed AZD1222 and sold by the Serum Institute under the brand name ‘Covishield’, had come under a cloud after reports of side- effects of a few blood clotting-cases from European countries.
The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, codenamed AZD1222 and sold by the Serum Institute under the brand name ‘Covishield’, had come under a cloud after reports of side- effects of a few blood clotting cases from European countries. Though there is no unified response, some countries are action cautious and have restricted its use. John Nkengasong, the head of the Africa CDC, however, said that the possible link between the vaccine and the blood clot reports had nothing to do with the Union’s decision to procure the additional sources from J&J.The Serum Institute of India will still supply the AstraZeneca vaccine to the continent through the COVAX vaccine-sharing facility. AU proposes to seek additional supplies from Johnson & Johnson.
