May 2, 2021 - World

Pfizer to send 4.5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to South Africa

Ivana Saric

A vial with a Pfizer label is seen with a syringa and needle. Photo: Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Pfizer has committed to sending 4.5 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine to South Africa by June, with some 300,000 set to arrive Sunday, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has announced.

Why it matters: South Africa is battling the worst coronavirus outbreak on the continent and has struggled with a low vaccine supply, per Bloomberg. The country is also grappling with a dangerous variant of the virus.

Details: Shipments of Pfizer doses will arrive in the country on a weekly basis until June, Mkhize said.

In addition to the Pfizer doses, South Africa expects for stocks of the Johnson&Johnson vaccine—the release of which paused last month following safety concerns—to be released by mid-May.

Go deeper: African countries struggle to deliver the few shots they've got

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Pfizer to send 4.5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to South Africa

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