South Africa's health ministry has said the country will get the first one million coronavirus vaccine doses from the Serum Institute of India (SII) in January and an additional 500,000 doses in February.

Priority would go to 1.25 million healthcare workers both in public and private hospitals, a statement said.

The ministry said it was working with the regulator, South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), to ensure the roll out of the Astra Zeneca vaccine is not delayed.

Negotiations and payment for the vaccine are being done by the government, Health Minister Zwelini Mkhize, said in a statement.

The development comes a day after the country confirmed its highest single-day deaths and new cases since the pandemic started.