South Africa will donate two million Johnson & Johnson vaccines to the rest of the continent, through a platform created by the African Union (AU).

According to the South African government, the doses will become available over the course of the next year.

"This donation represents South Africa's solidarity with our brothers and sisters on the continent, with whom we stand united in the fight against this unprecedented threat to public health and economic prosperity," the South African government said, as quoted by Reuters.

The doses, according to South African authorities, are destined for the poorest countries so that they can comply with the vaccination program as soon as possible.