KUALA LUMPUR – The Covid-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee Special Committee will be meeting next week to discuss the ceiling price for private coronavirus vaccine sales, said Khairy Jamaluddin today.
The science, technology and innovation minister said the private sales of Sinovac under Pharmaniaga Bhd will begin next month.
“Concerning the private sales of Sinovac, we agreed that there will come a time when the federal government has enough stock of the vaccine under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, and we will open it (sale of the vaccine) to the private market.
“A lot of people are asking why the government is not opening the private market. That is why, starting August, there are pharmaceutical companies that can supply the vaccines,” said Khairy at a joint press conference with Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba.
He said he and Dr Adham will meet with the committee next week to decide the guidelines, including the ceiling price to ensure it will not be too expensive.
Earlier, Khairy denied public speculation that the Sinovac shot is no longer favoured under the immunisation programme, as it is slowly being phased out.
He said Pharmaniaga – the local supplier of the shot – has already completed its supply shipment to Putrajaya based on the federal government’s order.
Meanwhile, local healthcare company Antah Pharma Sdn Bhd has inked a partnership with Pharmaniaga LifeScience (PLS) Sdn Bhd as one of the first corporations to privately supply and distribute the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine.
The Antah Healthcare Group subsidiary announced the supply and distribution agreement between itself and PLS, where it can sell the vaccine to, among others, employers, general physician clinics, hospitals and pharmacies through its sales channels.
“We are extremely delighted to be selected as a partner to work with Pharmaniaga in providing vaccines to Malaysians,” said group CEO Datuk Tunku Mohamed Alauddin Tunku Naquiyuddin. – The Vibes, July 23, 2021
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