KUALA LUMPUR – The Pfizer-BioNTech, Sinovac, and AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines currently in use in Malaysia are suitable for pregnant women based on the Health Ministry’s updated guidelines.
National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme Coordinating Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine remained recommended while the AstraZeneca and Sinovac vaccines have been classified as suitable for the group.
“AstraZeneca is no longer contraindicated in pregnancy and Sinovac is recommended by the World Health Organisation’s interim report for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers as the benefits outweigh the potential risks,” he said in a news conference after a visit to the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre vaccination centre here today.
Khairy said 109,607 pregnant women have registered for Covid-19 vaccination via the MySejahtera app so far.
Of the total, 11,663 women are expected to give birth in August, and the group will be given the priority for vaccination, he said, adding that about 10,000 pregnant mothers have received their appointment dates.
Khairy said about 6,000 expectant mothers were scheduled to be vaccinated at the Mitec and Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre vaccine centres this weekend.
Pregnant women remain high-priority recipients for vaccination based on risk of Covid-19 infection, he added.
On industry, Khairy, who is also the science, technology, and innovation minister, said four industrial vaccine centres were currently operating, while 19 others would begin operations by the end of this month.
The industrial centre for the oil and gas sector in Kerteh, Terengganu will start operating on July 1, and the Eastern Steel industrial centre in Kemaman will begin operations on July 2.
The vaccination programme for the economic sector will be expanded to cover other industries soon, he added.
Meanwhile, Khairy said careful planning was being done to avoid a shortage of vaccines at centres.
He admitted that some centres had run out of vaccine stocks due to high utilisation rates.
“We will receive more supplies in July, so we hope this will not happen again. We have over eight million doses and seven million have been utilised while one million doses are being distributed,” he said.
In a related development, Khairy said 99% of senior citizens in Kuala Lumpur and 88% in Selangor have either been vaccinated or have received an appointment date. – Bernama, June 26, 2021
