Tender for vaccine storage in SA to be issued by February 5 Health department director-general Sandile Buthelezi says the tender will be open to all eligible companies 28 January 2021 - 17:42 Nqobile Dludla Picture: DADO RUVIC/REUTERS The health ministry will issue a tender on February 5 to store and distribute Covid-19 vaccines, it said on Thursday, in an effort to speed up a vaccine rollout that opposition leaders and scientists have said is too slow. The qualifying bidders will be involved in phases 2 and 3 three of the country’s vaccine programme, director-general Sandile Buthelezi told Reuters. Health experts, scientists and political rivals have accused the government of taking too long to procure and plan the distribution of vaccines against the new coronavirus — a charge it rejects.