KUALA LUMPUR – It is baffling that a government that is admittedly having a stock shortage in its vaccine roll-out has snubbed offers by the private sector to offer vaccines for free.
Two months ago, PETRA Group had written to Science, Technology, and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, offering 20,000 Sinovac vaccines to be administered to frontliners and the vulnerable.
However, until today there has been no response from the ministry for this no-strings-attached offer.
Phase 2 of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme has been under way, however, since May 5.
Khairy revealed that the third phase of the programme, due this month, may be delayed due to insufficient vaccines.
However, PETRA Group is ready to assist in supplying some 200,000 vaccines through its humanitarian arm, the Vinod Sekhar Trust.
PETRA Group’s chief government liaison, Datuk Dr William Stevenson, said that the Vinod Sekhar Trust had already sent an official letter to the Health Ministry (MoH) in early March to donate approximately 20,000 Sinovac vaccines for those in dire need of a jab but were not on the priority list.
“Unfortunately, there was no response from MoH regarding this matter. We sent another letter on March 31 to YB Khairy. We are still waiting for the minister to respond to us,” he said.
“The government is doing its best to curtail the Covid-19 virus, and we want to help because we believe that it is everyone’s responsibility to help stop this virus from further damaging the economy and the livelihood of the people.
“We want to do our part to help the government,” he told The Vibes.
Stevenson added that the Vinod Sekhar Trust had also written to the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency to indicate its donation of 200,000 Sinovac vaccines.
“Originally, we only had 20,000 vaccines, but we have managed to source another 180,000 vaccines and we want to give (all) 200,000 vials as part of our national service,” said Stevenson.
“We hope that the decision-makers will respond favourably and allow us to help as Covid-19 cases are on the rise again,” he said.
Stevenson said that if the government is facing challenges with the implementation of Phase 3, it should allow external parties, such as local companies and businesses, to step in and offer the required assistance because the national economy, as well as the safety and livelihood of Malaysians, are at stake.
According to the immunisation programme, the first phase of vaccinations involving 500,000 frontliners was from February to April.
Here, the government exceeded its target by immunising 552,862 frontliners, including healthcare workers.
The second phase from April to August is targeted at 9.4 million senior citizens (aged 60 and above) and vulnerable groups, including persons with pre-existing health conditions and disabilities.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba said on Saturday that a total of 732,322 individuals have received both doses of their vaccine.
He said the figure was part of the 1,182,265 individuals who received the first dose, bringing the total number of first and second doses administered in the country to 1,914,587.
Meanwhile, Phase 3 of the vaccine roll-out from May this year to February 2022 is targeted at 13.7 million citizens aged 18 and above. – The Vibes, May 17, 2021
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