Health Minister Zweli Mkhize on Tuesday denied the government is returning the 1 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses they received from the Serum Institute of India.
This follows earlier reports that the country would send back the consignment they got a few weeks ago to inoculate health workers.
Speaking during the debate on the State of the Nation Address, Mkhize said: “We would also like to categorically refute the speculation in the media that we have returned the stock to India. We have not.
“The AstraZeneca doses we purchased have been offered to the African Union platform, of which we are part of, and the AU will distribute to those countries who have already expressed interest in acquiring the stock.
“Therefore, please be assured there will be no wasteful and fruitless expenditure.”
The issue of vaccines came as government announced they are speaking to a number of pharmaceutical companies to supply South Africa with vaccines.