PUTRAJAYA – The Covid-19 vaccine will be given free to Malaysians, with foreigners to pay a fee determined by the Health Ministry, said Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today.
The prime minister told a virtual press conference here that Putrajaya has no plans to make the jab compulsory.
The vaccine will be administered only to those who agree to it, including at-risk groups, he said.
“I hear that many people out there are waiting for the Covid-19 vaccination to lead a normal life.
“We hope that with the steps taken by the government to supply the vaccine, we can save more people from the disease.”
Present at the presser were Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba, and Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
Muhyiddin said a study by YouGov, a British internet-based market research and data analytics firm, found that 82% of Malaysians are ready to be vaccinated.
He expressed hope that the figure will hit 100%.
On which company’s vaccine will be chosen, he said priority will be given to the jab that is of high quality and proven safe.
“The price and supplementary costs, such as for equipment and disposable materials, will be taken into account as well.
“At this early stage, the vaccine to be marketed will surely cost a little higher, and there will be a difference between one producer and another.
“If there is an opportunity to negotiate a reasonable price, we will do so to get an affordable price, with funding not only by the government, but also the private sector.”
He said Putrajaya is negotiating with 10 of the 12 firms whose vaccines are in Phase 3 of clinical trials.
The government, through the Special Committee on Covid-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee, will evaluate all the vaccines, including the one developed by Pfizer, to ensure they are safe to be deployed.
“Currently, there are 12 producers whose vaccines are in Phase 3 trials, and the government is actively negotiating with 10 of them.
“The government will buy vaccines from multiple sources to ensure sufficient supply for the country. I have been told that we need supply for at least 60% of the population, meaning for a start, 18 million to 19 million people will be immunised.”
Muhyiddin said the Health Ministry will supply the private sector if there is a surplus, adding that there will be no issue for private health facilities to secure vaccines from approved companies.
He said Putrajaya encourages vaccine producers to set up factories in Malaysia, and that special incentives will be offered to them.
Malaysia is also ready to cooperate to become a vaccine producer in the future, he said.
“We have no problem cooperating in the early stages if there are companies out there, such as those in China, that are interested in looking for partners to carry out research and development... we encourage that.” – Bernama, November 27, 2020
