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PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia will insist that its Pfizer vaccine orders will be able to address the most infectious variant of the virus in the UK, says Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
“Pfizer is now monitoring the effectiveness of its vaccine on the new mutation of the virus.
“If it’s not as effective, the company said it would take about six weeks to modify the vaccine.
“We will receive that (modified) vaccine. I will insist on this.
“We have not spoken with them, but I will raise the matter with Pfizer to ensure that regardless of the orders Malaysia has placed, we will obtain the vaccine that can address the most infectious variant,” he said on Wednesday (December 23).
Malaysia has obtained 12.8 million doses of vaccine from Pfizer that can cover 6.4 million people.
In recent days, the UK has identified a potentially more contagious new coronavirus variant linked to a recent surge in cases in the country.
Currently labeled VUI-202012/01 (Virus Under Investigation December 2020), the variant was first detected in the UK in September.
As scientists search for more information on the variant, its impact is already being felt.
After news emerged from the UK about the recently discovered strain of Covid-19, several countries in Europe, including the Netherlands and Italy, as well as India, proceeded to ban passenger flights from the country.
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