No politician will be involved in the procurement process of the mRNA vaccines.

Health Minister Joe Phaahla was addressing delegates in a high-level meeting, including international partners, including Director-General for the World Health Organistaion (WHO), Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, to discuss the implementation, development and manufacturing of the mRNA vaccine in South Africa.

The vaccine production aims to assist low and middle income countries. The minister says that the African continent has been deprived of the opportunity to produce its own vaccines, adding that was time for equality to prevail.

Phaahla adds that strict legislation will be implemented to clamp down on all loopholes to uphold the high ethical standard of the procurement process.