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PUTRAJAYA (Bernama): A Malaysia Airlines Airbus A330-300 aircraft adorned in the livery of the national flag was tasked with carrying the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for Malaysians on Sunday (February 21).
The aircraft will transport 312,390 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for the first delivery to Malaysia under the National Covid-19 Immunization Program in phases beginning February 26.
According to MAB Kargo Sdn Bhd (MASkargo) COO, Mohd Zulkefly Ujang, the selection of the aircraft in the Jalur Gemilang livery is symbolic, as the vaccine is for Malaysians.
“We have many aircraft with specific livery like Harimau Malaya, and choosing the national flag shows that it is for the Malays,” he told Bernama.
MASkargo, which is the air cargo division of Malaysia Airlines Bhd, was tasked with coordinating responsibility for receiving the vaccine at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
Mohd Zulkefly said it was not necessary to modify the passenger plane to transport the vaccine, as only the cargo section of the plane would be used for that purpose.
According to him, since the Covid-19 pandemic began, many passenger planes have been used for cargo service for the country’s foreign trade.
“During the pandemic, there are no passengers. As such, we carry out the P2C alternative that is passenger for cargo as COVID-19-19 test kits, personal protective equipment (PPE) and masks, ”he said.
Commenting on the preparation at the place of arrival of the vaccine, Mohd Zulkefly said that intensive efforts are being made at the Advanced Loading Center (ACC), KLIA to ensure that the process of receiving the vaccine runs smoothly.
“We will ensure that the standard operating procedure (SOP) contains COVID-19-19 how physical distancing is adhered to by everyone present ”, he said.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced on Tuesday (February 16) that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine would arrive in the country on Sunday to implement the National vaccine. COVID-19-19 Immunization program in phases from February 26.
Muhyiddin will receive the vaccine on the first day of the program with frontline workers.
The first phase of the immunization program begins from February to April with the participation of front-line workers, followed by the second phase from April to August for high-risk groups, that is, people aged 60 years and over and vulnerable groups with morbidity problems, as well as the disabled.
The third phase involves adults over the age of 18 from May this year to February next year. – Bernama
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