[ad_1]
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia should be able to get the Covid-19 vaccine quickly as it is on China’s priority beneficiary list, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (pix) Said yesterday.
He said that China is expected to complete full clinical trials by the end of this year.
Malaysia also agreed to participate in the global Covid-19 vaccine plan, Covax, Muhyiddin said at a press conference yesterday.
In addition to having to pay RM42 million to participate in the Covax plan, the government will bear an additional cost of RM600 million to buy the vaccine, he said.
The prime minister said that the country will negotiate the amount to be paid to Covax, as currently the price per dose has been set at approximately US $ 20 (RM 83).
Earlier, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein announced that China had put Malaysia on the priority list for its Covid-19 vaccine.
“We welcome and appreciate China’s commitment to provide us with its vaccine,” the foreign minister announced at a joint press conference after a bilateral meeting with his visiting Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.
“We also welcome China’s agreement to encourage Chinese companies to establish comprehensive cooperation with Malaysian partners in vaccine research, development and distribution.”
The country, Hishammuddin said, is also closely monitoring the development of the vaccine, adding that obtaining it is the government’s high priority.
He said China has announced that the vaccine is being developed and that it could be ready for use by the general public in November.
“(Wang’s) visit to Kuala Lumpur is a new platform for us to make sure we are not left behind in vaccine cooperation and coordination.”
[ad_2]
