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KLUANG, December 19 – The government will enter into a deal with the UK’s AstraZeneca on Monday to purchase the Covid-19 vaccine to meet the immunization needs of 20 percent of the country’s population.
Health Minister Datuk Seri, Dr. Adham Baba, said this is the third agreement after the government signed with Covax to buy 10 percent of its need for vaccines and with Pfizer to cover 20 percent of the Malaysian needs last month.
“In general, we will buy vaccines for 50 percent of the people. We will try to get all vaccine supplies in the first quarter of next year, ”he told reporters after a symbolic delivery of the contribution of the Aerosol Intubation Box by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) to the Ministry of Health (MOH ) at Simpang Renggam near here today. .
Also present was the Deputy Vice Chancellor of UTM (Research and Innovation) Prof Datuk Dr Ahmad Fauzi Ismail.
Dr Adham said that at the same time, the government has to increase the procurement of another 20 percent in vaccines to meet the needs of 70 percent of the population.
He said the government would seek to attract vaccine suppliers to meet the country’s needs.
“The important thing is that the companies that gave quick access to their vaccines must ensure that they are safe and of quality. It must also receive approval from the producing country, as well as approval from the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) of the Ministry of Health.
“If it is concluded, we can vaccinate the first Malaysians who make up the front line in early 2021,” he said.
Media reported today that the first batch of vaccine would arrive in February 2021 and supplies will continue until the end of 2021.
On November 24, Malaysia announced that it would purchase its initial supply of 12.8 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine from Pfizer to meet 20 percent of its immunization needs or 6.4 million people for free. – Bernama
