African Countries Order 220 Million Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine Doses

Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, announced on March 29, 2021, it had agreed with the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) to make available up to 220 million doses of its single-shot COVID-19 vaccine candidate to the African Union (AU) 55 member states.

The expected delivery of these vaccines begins in the third quarter of 2021. The AVAT also can order an additional 180 million doses for a combined total of up to 400 million doses through 2022.

The Janssen COVID-19 vaccine candidate's availability is subject to its successful approval or authorization by the national regulatory authorities of AU member states.

“From the beginning of this pandemic, Johnson & Johnson has recognized that no one is safe until everyone is safe, and we have been committed to equitable, global access to new COVID-19 vaccines,” said Alex Gorsky, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Johnson & Johnson.

“Our support for the COVAX Facility, combined with supplementary agreements with countries and regions, will help accelerate global progress toward ending the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The Janssen COVID-19 vaccine was granted Emergency Use Listing from the World Health Organization on March 12, 2021. It uses the AdVac® vaccine platform, a proprietary technology used to develop and manufacture Janssen’s European Commission-approved Ebola vaccine regimen and construct its investigational Zika, RSV, and HIV vaccines.

Janssen’s AdVac® vectors are based on a specific type of adenovirus, which has been genetically modified so that it can no longer replicate in humans and cause disease. Adenoviruses are a group of viruses that can cause the common cold.

The Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson focus on areas of medicine where they can make the biggest difference: Cardiovascular & Metabolism, Immunology, Infectious Diseases & Vaccines, Neuroscience, Oncology, and Pulmonary Hypertension. Learn more at www.janssen.com.