PUTRAJAYA – Malaysia is awaiting data from the third phase of clinical trials from all Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing companies before deciding on the procurement of a vaccine.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the data is important to enable the Health Ministry to confirm that the vaccine is effective and safe for use.
So far, 12 Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing companies are in phase 3 of clinical trials, he said.
“For now, we still don’t know the effectiveness of the vaccines as the data from the third phase of the clinical trials have yet to be published.
“Once we get the data, only then can we consider using it, and so far, we have only heard about its effectiveness through media reports,” he told his daily Covid-19 media briefing here today.
Dr Noor Hisham added that no Covid-19 vaccine has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“Just like medicines, vaccines must also be registered with the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA),” he said.
On the ministry's projection for when the third wave of Covid-19 in the country will end, Dr Noor Hisham said there is yet no estimation but the ministry will continue implementing health measures to curb the spread of the virus. – Bernama, November 21, 2020
