Johnson & Johnson has become the latest company to request emergency authorization for its vaccine in the US, hoping to produce 1 billion jabs this year. Follow DW for the latest.

South Africa plans to kickstart its Covid-19 vaccination campaign with Johnson & Johnson jabs after withholding a batch of AstraZeneca doses following doubts over the shot's efficacy. The country worst-hit by the pandemic in Africa had suspended its vaccine rollout - meant to begin with Oxford/AstraZeneca - after scientists found the shot failed to prevent mild and moderate illness caused by a local virus variant known as 501Y.V2.

Oklahoma's Attorney General accused Johnson & Johnson of a "multi-billion-dollar brainwashing campaign" to get doctors to overprescribe opioids, downplaying the addiction risks. J&J shares surged after the ruling.