[ad_1]
KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation is expected to issue a statement today on the country’s plan for Covid-19 vaccines.
The statement is in response to a call from the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) to the Ministry of Health to explain to the rakyat why the country had not signed the Covax Vaccine Plan for Covid-19 vaccines.
Malaysia, said MMA President Dr. N. Ganabaskaran (Photo), it was not among the 172 countries that had signed up before yesterday’s deadline.
“MMA believes that even if Malaysia has its own bilateral negotiations for a vaccine, subscribing to the Covax Vaccine Plan may be an additional option that will guarantee access to vaccines for Covid-19.
“We urge the Ministry of Health to be transparent about its plans to purchase vaccines for the country. The rakyat have the right to know and the government has the duty to keep the country informed, ”he said yesterday.
Covax, the Center for Global Access to the Covid-19 Vaccine, is an initiative launched by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organization and the Coalition for Innovations in Preparedness for Epidemics.
More than 170 countries have indicated their intention to join Covax.
Although there are more than 200 Covid-19 vaccines in development, it is believed that most are likely to fail.
MMA, Dr. Ganabaskaran said, understood that there could be safety concerns in accelerating vaccine development.
“We are equally concerned. However, 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, “she said.
He added that even if the ministry needs more time beyond the Covax vaccination plan deadline to decide, the rakyat must know.
“The Minister of Health must respond now or may have to respond to the rakyat later on why Malaysia is last in line for vaccines,” he said.
On August 20, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said that he would recommend that the Covid-19 vaccine be provided free of charge to all Malaysians.
He said Malaysia had participated in the Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, which had funded many vaccine research efforts from Western countries and companies.
[ad_2]
