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Photographer: Vincenzo Pinto / AFP / Getty Images
Photographer: Vincenzo Pinto / AFP / Getty Images
Malaysia will sign an agreement on Monday to AstraZeneca Plc. to supply doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to cover a fifth of the country’s population, state news agency Bernama reported, citing Health Minister Adham Baba.
Last month, the government ordered 12.8 million doses of the Pfizer Inc.-BioNTech SE vaccine to inoculate about 20% of the population. It also has an agreement with the World Health Organization’s Covax facility for sufficient doses to vaccinate 10% of its population, Bernama reported.
The country will start vaccinating front-line workers early next year if the agreements are concluded, Bernama quoted the minister as saying.
Malaysia seeks to vaccinate 70% of its population, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said this month. The country is struggling to contain a new wave of cases that emerged in late September, with new daily infections reaching a record 2,234 on December 10.
READ: Southeast Asia Covid-19 Vaccine Tracker – Who Will Get What, When
