GEORGE TOWN – A Penang executive councillor wants Putrajaya to be more transparent about the Covid-19 vaccines it intends to procure from overseas as the public is in the dark over what it contains and how it will be given out.
Phee Boon Poh, who heads the state’s welfare, caring society and environment portfolios, said the federal authorities need to ensure three As – availability, accessibility and affordability – in the distribution of vaccines.
He said the government must first ensure that the vaccine is available to everyone, is easily accessible to those who urgently need it, and is affordable.
"I understand that the vaccine is pricey. A rich nation such as China can dispense it freely to every citizen. But I think in Malaysia, there will be a cost to be borne by each citizen," he said.
Phee said reports have indicated that Malaysia would rather liaise with China for the vaccine as opposed to other countries.
However, the process must be transparent – from the beginning, in terms of production, to when the vaccine is administered.
Currently, there is only hearsay but no clarity over how it works, Phee told The Vibes.
He said answers are needed on the vaccine’s side effects and whether those administered with it can get infected again.
He said that, based on what he has been told, the vaccine consists of a low-level grade of the Covid-19 virus that, when injected, will help the body's immune system fight against it.
This is unlike how Covid-19 normally attacks the immune system and multiplies inside the body.
He said that he understands the vaccine needs to be stored at low temperature and administered twice for full effect.
Jagdeep Singh Deo, the state executive councillor for housing, local government, and town and country planning, said that until these matters are clear, the only "vaccine" that Malaysia has is its standard operating procedures, which include wearing masks, observing good personal hygiene and exercising physical distancing.
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin had told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday that the vaccine is expected to be available in the first quarter of next year.
He said some 70% of Malaysians are expected to receive it to ensure herd immunity.
The government is in talks with various countries in Europe, the US, Russia and China to determine the best Covid-19 vaccine portfolio for Malaysians, he added. – The Vibes, November 27, 2020
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