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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s largest pharmaceutical company, Pharmaniaga Bhd, said today that it is preparing to distribute the Covid-19 vaccine, which is expected to be available early next year.
The announcement follows news of a government agreement with US manufacturer Pfizer to buy enough Covid-19 vaccine to inoculate 6.4 million Malaysians.
Pharmaniaga Group Managing Director Zulkarnain Md Eusope said that the company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Pharmaniaga Logistics Sdn Bhd, would prioritize the temperature requirements of the Pfizer vaccine to ensure its continued quality, safety and efficacy.
The Pfizer vaccine must be kept at a temperature of -70⁰C. Another Covid-19 vaccine, from Moderna Inc, requires a temperature of -20⁰C.
“Most other vaccine manufacturers have advertised the standard 2-8⁰C temperature requirement. This creates the need for the high volume of vaccines to be managed in accordance with the distribution requirements and the specifications established by the manufacturers, ”he said.
He said that Pharmaniaga had resolved the transportation requirements.
“Each of the boxes will be sealed together with a temperature control device that allows the customer to verify temperature compliance. The delivery vehicles are equipped with “Internet of things” devices that allow us to control the movement of the vehicle, the arrival time and the temperature.
“We note that Pfizer’s vaccine requires an ultra-cold temperature of -70⁰C, so the frozen pre-filled syringes will be delivered in heated carriers that are filled with dry ice to maintain ultra-cold temperatures,” he said.
Zulkarnain said that the current Pharmaniaga stores, in Bukit Raja, Shah Alam; Juru, Penang; Kota Kinabalu and Kuching have cold chain facilities with a backup power and environmental monitoring system to ensure vaccines are safe for use.
Additionally, all of these warehouses have been licensed to handle cold chain products by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency, and the facilities are continually being improved, he said.
“We see the possibility that hospital stores will have a significant limitation if a large volume of Covid-19 vaccines reaches beyond their storage capacity. In this regard, Pharmaniaga is studying the just-in-time delivery system to ensure orderly and smooth vaccination and replenishment of stocks, “he said.
Pharmaniaga is owned by Boustead Holdings and the Armed Forces Fund Board, LTAT.
