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.JPG "Malaysian Medical Association President Dr. N. Ganabaskaran speaks during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur on February 21, 2020. - Image by Hari Anggara")
KUALA LUMPUR, September 18 – The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) said today that Health Minister Datuk Seri, Dr. Adham Baba, should explain why Malaysia did not join the Covax Vaccination Plan co-led by the World Organization Health (WHO).
MMA President Dr N. Ganabaskaran said the association believes that even if Malaysia has its own bilateral negotiations for a vaccine, enrolling in the Covax Vaccine Plan may be an additional option that will ensure access to vaccines for Covid-19.
“We understand that there may be safety concerns in accelerating vaccine development and we are equally concerned.
“But any potential vaccine will be thoroughly evaluated through strict controls by the Ministry of Health to determine its efficacy and safety before it is approved and declared safe for the population.
“Even if the Ministry of Health needs more time, beyond the Covax vaccination plan deadline to decide, the rakyat must know.
“The health minister must respond now or may have to respond to the rakyat later on why Malaysia is last in line for vaccines,” he said in a statement today.
Currently 172 countries have signed up for the plan with the deadline set for today.
On September 9, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin promised that Malaysia will not miss the Covid-19 vaccine even if the country does not produce it.
He said Malaysia is in talks with several countries that are developing the vaccine and said Malaysia is willing to cooperate to ensure it will have enough for its citizens.
September 3, health news portal Blue code reported that Malaysia has not committed to joining a global Covid-19 vaccine allocation plan, co-led by WHO.
The portal quoted Dr. Adham as saying that Malaysia is awaiting more information on the international scheme whose coordinators have set a September 18 deadline for participating countries to make binding commitments.
Seth Berkley, head of the Switzerland-based GAVI international vaccine alliance, told Reuters that the plan known as Covax, which aims to help buy and fairly distribute coronavirus vaccines, currently has commitments. from Japan, Germany and Norway, among others. 76 upper-middle-income and upper-middle-income countries, to acquire Covid-19 vaccines through the facility for their populations.
