Question NW892 to the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
29 March 2021 - NW892
Hlengwa, Mr M to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
Whether there is any initiative by BRICS towards COVID – 19 vaccine development and/or collaboration to procure vaccines collectively for the purpose of shared distribution; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details
Reply:
South Africa is committed to the establishment of a physical BRICS Vaccine Research and
Development Centre, the concept of which it initiated during South Africa’s BRICS Chairship in 2018. Government is in the process of establishing an inter-departmental task team comprising the Department of Science and Innovation, Department of Health, Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation. The objective of the Task Team will be to re-assess South Africa’s priorities on this issue and cooperate on the operationalisation of the BRICS Vaccine Research and Development Centre, to expedite the process under India’s 2021 BRICS Chairship and report regularly to the four Ministers.