KUALA LUMPUR – The federal government should look to local experts and resources to ensure a long-term Covid-19 vaccine supply and efficacy via a national vaccine research centre.
Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) president Datuk Syed Hussain Syed Husman said there should be a comprehensive strategy to ensure an adequate supply of vaccines.
“The government has done well to set up various vaccination centres, be it mega centres or mobile units, and even roped in private clinics and hospitals to support (vaccination) efforts, and not to mention the deployment of the medical corps of the armed forces.
“But while we plan the infrastructure of vaccine logistics and centres, there should also be a comprehensive strategy for the supply of vaccines.
“Of Malaysia’s 32.75 million population, only about one million have received two doses and three million, the first dose. It appears highly improbable that we will achieve herd immunity by year-end.
“A major factor for the slow rate of inoculation is delays in getting the vaccine from suppliers.
“Besides having to cope with an intense global demand, the discovery of new (Covid-19) variants has also caused an increase in demand, with additional requests to resupply for third boosters – which will only add to the delays.”
Syed Hussain said with the ongoing Covid-19 mutation and variants, the vaccine supply issue is here to stay, and unless Malaysia has control of its own vaccine, the country will continue to depend on others.
In view of the situation and with an objective of safeguarding the health and safety of the people against Covid-19 and other future pandemics, it is necessary to set up a national vaccine research centre based on local expertise and resources, he added.
“The government should explore all avenues to overcome the virus and its variants, including in-depth research and study by local experts and professionals on the real origins of the virus and independent expert assessment of the prescribed interventions, and take necessary action based on this.
“We should be setting up our own specialised vaccine research centre to look at the long-term prospects of producing our own vaccine.”
As of yesterday, the Health Ministry said 3,030,096 individuals have received their first dose and 1,331,262, their second dose. – The Vibes, June 13, 2021
