The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority has announced that it would not release the Johnson & Johnson vaccine following contamination concerns at one of the US drug maker's sites. The news marks a major setback in the country's vaccine rollout just as a third wave of infections is gathering momentum.

Lagging behind many other countries, South Africa has only vaccinated just over one percent of its population. More from Mia Malan, Editor-in-chief of the Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism.