J&J to supply 400m Covid-19 vaccine doses to African Union

Johnson & Johnson has agreed to supply member states of the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust with 400m dosis of its Covid-19 jab, the company said on Monday.

The agreement with the African Union will make up to 220m doses of its single-shot vaccine candidate available to the bloc's 55 member states with delivery set to begin in the third quarter of 2021.

AVAT also has an option to order an additional 180m doses, for a combined total of up to 400m vials through 2022.

Availability of the vaccine candidate is subject to its successful approval or authorization by national regulatory authorities of AU member states, J&J said in a press release.

"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."

Back in December 2020, J&J also entered into an agreement in principle with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi), in support of the COVAX Facility, which is supporting the initial vaccination needs of 190 participating economies, including many countries in Africa.

J&J and Gavi expect to enter into an Advance Purchase Agreement (APA) that would provide up to 500m doses of the Company's vaccine to COVAX through 2022.