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KUALA LUMPUR: Pharmaniaga Bhd is ready to efficiently distribute the Covid-19 vaccines which are expected to be ready by the first quarter of 2021, as soon as it receives the go-ahead from the government.
The group’s managing director, Datuk Zulkarnain Md Eusope, said the government-linked company has created a team of 400 people trained in logistics and distribution in five departments located in Selangor, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak.
He said that in addition to ensuring that delivery is made in Just-in-Time (JIT) format to hospitals (in accordance with the capacity and vaccination schedules determined by the government), the company must also focus on safety aspects. during the vaccine distribution process.
“Vaccines will be highly sought after products. As such, Pharmaniaga will reinforce security at our godowns, during transport and at storage locations to avoid unwanted situations, ”he told Bernama.
He said the delivery of the JIT is aimed at preventing over-storage in government hospital storage facilities.
In preparation for the distribution of the vaccine, the company was also prepared to make the necessary modifications at its factory, Pharmaniaga LifeScience Sdn Bhd in Puchong, to enable them to carry out the process of developing the Covid-19 vaccine vial.
Pharmaniaga has six factories in Malaysia, namely Idaman Pharma Manufacturing Sdn Bhd in Sungai Petani and Sri Iskandar; Pharmaniaga Manufacturing Bhd in Bangi; Pharmaniaga LifeScience in Puchong; Paradigm Industry Sdn Bhd in Klang and Bio-Collagen Technologies Sdn Bhd in Sri Kembangan.
It also has another factory, PT Errita Pharma in Bandung, Indonesia.
Meanwhile, Zulkarnain said the Pharmaniaga warehouses had sufficient capacity to store vaccines with a temperature range of two to eight degrees Celsius.
“Our total storage capacity is close to 30 million vials at any one time,” he said.
Commenting on the halal status of the vaccines, he explained that the matter should be referred to the appropriate authorities.
“It should be noted that for any drug and vaccine production, halal certification is issued only at the factory site after examining the source of raw materials, work processes and the issue of introduction of prohibited substances on the site. of the fabric.
“Generic drugs and vaccines are not allowed to be labeled with any halal certification,” he said, adding that Pharmaniaga has not yet received instructions.
Zulkarnain also pointed out that the appointment of any logistics and distribution company for Covid-19 vaccines falls under the prerogative of the government.
On December 22, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the government had signed an agreement with the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to obtain an additional 6.4 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine that the country would receive.
This means that the government now has a 40% guarantee of vaccine supply through joint agreements with COVAX, Pfizer and AstraZeneca.
Through an agreement previously signed with COVAX and Pfizer, Malaysia was scheduled to receive supplies for 30 percent of the country’s population. –Called
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