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PUTRAJAYA: The second phase of the National Covid-19 Immunization Program will start on April 17 instead of April 19 as previously announced, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Adham Baba.
He said the registration campaign needed to be stepped up as people 60 and older and people with comorbidities made up only 30 percent of the seven million people who had registered through the MySejahtera app.
“We need to intensify the campaign to increase the vaccination registry through five methods, namely, through MySejahtera or the website of the Ministry of Health (MINSA), contacting the hotline, going to the district health centers already through outreach programs of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that also target the homeless and illegal immigrants, ”he said.
A total of 9.4 million vaccine recipients are targeted in the second phase involving high-risk groups, including the elderly, chronic patients, people with disabilities (OKU), and people with comorbidities.
Dr Adham told the media after witnessing the signing of an agreement between the Ministry of Health and Solutions Biologics Sdn Bhd (SolBio) to produce China’s CanSino Covid-10 vaccine on a ‘fill and finish’ basis, here today.
Dr. Adham said that the vaccination exercise will continue during the fasting month and that evening appointments at certain Vaccination Centers (PPV) will be offered to vaccine recipients.
When asked about banning vaccine exports in various countries to meet domestic demand following the rise in Covid-19 infections and lack of supply, Dr Adham said it would not affect the ongoing immunization program. in Malaysia, as suppliers had made a commitment to the government that delivery would be on schedule.
For example, he said that Malaysia would acquire AstraZeneca vaccine from factories in Thailand through direct procurement, while the supply of AstraZeneca vaccine through the COVAX facility would come from South Korea.
“These things are all guaranteed. Therefore, the problem of delays in the supply of vaccines from suppliers does not arise in Malaysia. We can execute all schedules and deliveries within the stipulated time, but we hope that deliveries can be expedited if possible, ”he said.
India is reported to have temporarily halted all major exports of the AstraZeneca vaccine produced by the Indian Serum Institute (SII) to meet domestic demand following the rise in Covid-19 infections in the country.
The move, as reported, will also affect supply to the World Health Organization (WHO)-backed COVAX vaccine exchange facility, where many countries are expected to get their respective doses.
COVAX is a global initiative whose goal is equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines. – Named
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