South Africa to donate two million Covid jabs

South Africa is donating around two million Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 jabs to other African countries, it says.

The government wants to show solidarity with other countries on the continent, President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement. 

"The only way in which we can prevent Covid-19 transmission and protect economies and societies on our continent, is to successfully immunise a critical mass of the African population with safe and effective vaccines," he continued.

The value of the donation is $18m (£13m), according to the statement, and will be made available to other countries starting from 2022 through the African Medical Suppliers Platform (AMSP), which was launched by the African Union (AU).

This article originally appeared on BBC News

Photo: AFP