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KLUANG: The government will enter into an agreement with the UK’s AstraZeneca on the purchase of the Covid-19 vaccine to meet the immunization needs of 20% of the country’s population.
Health Minister Datuk Seri, Dr. Adham Baba, said that this was the third agreement, to be finalized tomorrow, after the government signed with Covax to buy 10% of its vaccine and with Pfizer to cover 20%. of Malaysia’s needs last month.
“In general, we will buy vaccines for 50% of the population. We will try to get all vaccine supplies in the first quarter of next year, ”he said after a symbolic delivery of the contribution of the Aerosol Intubation Box by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) to the Ministry of Health in Simpang Renggam yesterday.
Also present was the Deputy Vice Chancellor of UTM (Research and Innovation) Prof Datuk Dr. Ahmad Fauzi Ismail.
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 the approval of the producing country, as well as the approval of the National Agency for Pharmaceutical Regulation of the Ministry of Health.
“If it is concluded, we can first vaccinate the Malaysians who are part of the vanguard in early 2021,” he said.
On November 24, Malaysia announced that it had secured an initial supply of 12.8 million doses of Pfizer vaccine, which is enough to provide free immunization to 6.4 million Malaysians or 20% of the population.
In Kuala Lumpur, Industry and International Trade Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali said the government was expected to receive the first batch of Pfizer vaccines in February.
He said that the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Khairy Jamaluddin, said this to the cabinet at a recent meeting.
“We expect the first delivery to be in February … the supply will continue until the end of 2021.
“The initial supply will be used to vaccinate front-line people and vulnerable groups,” Azmin said yesterday.
He said the government was trying to buy vaccines from other drug companies.
“The government is making efforts to get a larger supply of vaccines to meet our needs,” he said.
The first delivery of one million doses will take place in the first quarter of next year, followed by 1.7 million doses (second quarter), 5.8 million doses (third quarter) and 4.3 million doses (fourth trimester). – Bernama
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