GEORGE TOWN – The government should not rush the Covid-19 vaccine approval process from global pharmaceutical company Pfizer until it has been thoroughly tested, said the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) in a letter to the Health Ministry, and Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry yesterday.
The letter was sent to both ministries detailing concerns and recommendations regarding the vaccine, said CAP president Mohideen Abdul Kader.
“CAP is worried about the effects of the Covid-19 vaccine on the people of this country, especially those in high-risk groups such as the elderly, children, and those with certain illnesses.
“This is because the data on production of the vaccine was compiled by the pharmaceutical company itself and as a company, profit is definitely its goal,” he said at a press conference here today.
On November 27, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the government had signed an initial agreement on the purchase of vaccines from Pfizer to enable the country to obtain 12.8 million doses of the vaccine.
However, international media reported that six individuals have died during the final phase of clinical trials for the Covid-19 vaccine, developed by Pfizer and its German counterpart: BioNTech.
The matter was revealed by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hours after the United Kingdom became the first country to start an inoculation campaign.
According to Mohideen, the production of a vaccine often takes a long time, and CAP is worried that the vaccine was produced in a hurry by a pharmaceutical company solely for profit.
“The Health Ministry should conduct a study on the long-term effects of the vaccines and its side effects on patients.
“The vaccine must also be approved and registered by the FDA and National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Division before being distributed.”
Meanwhile, Mohideen said CAP will now be more active on social media in conjunction with its 50th anniversary this year.
“CAP is now accessible through our website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.” – The Vibes, December 10, 2020
