JOHANNESBURG, April 21 (Reuters) – South African researchers hope to restart use of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine next week in an “implementation study” immunising healthcare workers, a top local scientist said on Wednesday.

South Africa suspended the study last week after U.S. federal health agencies recommended pausing use of J&J’s vaccine because of rare cases of blood clots.

“We do hope to start again next week,” South African Medical Research Council President Glenda Gray said during a webinar.

(Reporting by Alexander Winning and Wendell Roelf; editing by Mfuneko Toyana)

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