Committee Chair Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo told members the minister informed him on Thursday night he d been legally advised to not attend the briefing.
It s been alleged he benefited from this contract, which was awarded to some of his close associates.
The Democratic Alliance on Thursday laid criminal charges against Mkhize.
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ANC committee member Tshilidzi Munyai said that the issue to be discussed was sub judice as Mkhize and his director-general, Sandile Buthelezi, were under investigation.
Zweli Mkhize's failure to pitch-up at a Health Portfolio Committee Meeting on Friday stoked the fires of Naledi Chirwa, and she delivered a stinging rebuke.
The first batch of the Pfizer vaccine (325,260 doses) was expected to land at OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday, 2 May, just before midnight, the Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, announced.
He said a safety plan for the vaccines had been designed by the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJoints), and all security agencies would be engaged to ensure that the necessary security procedures were in place for safe delivery of the vaccine.
“Upon arrival the entire batch will be transported initially to a central warehouse. Samples will be sent to the National Control Laboratory for quality assurance and, after release, will be distributed to the provinces.