[UPDATED] PM to get first dose of Pfizer shot on Feb 26

KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has announced that he will be receiving the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine alongside frontliners on February 26.

Speaking during the launch of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme handbook today, Muhyiddin also confirmed that the shipment of the first batch of vaccine will arrive by February 21.

“The handbook is being published to explain the policies behind the programme. It not only serves as a guide for policy researchers, but also as a reference point for the public,” he said during a live address at the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya.

He added that the country’s largest vaccination drive will be implemented in three phases.

Muhyiddin said the first phase of the programme will begin with an estimated 500,000 frontliners, such as healthcare workers and defence sector personnel, being inoculated between February 26 and April.

“The second phase, involving approximately 9.4 million people, will focus on high-risk groups – such as senior citizens aged 65 and above, those with chronic diseases and the disabled – who will be administered the vaccine between April to August.

“The third phase, between May this year to February next year, will focus on inoculating individuals aged 18 and above, citizens and non-citizens. This target group is estimated to include 13.7 million people.”

It is understood that children and young teenagers will not be vaccinated yet as none of the vaccines currently produced have been clinically approved for those under the age of 18.

Muhyiddin stressed that a comprehensive immunisation programme is needed to ensure that herd immunity is formed within the community to break the Covid-19 chain of infection, thus ending the pandemic.

“Please do not to treat the programme lightly as its success is essential for the country to return to social and economic normalcy.”

Those who wish to participate in the immunisation programme may register via the MySejahtera app or visit the VaksinCovid website.

The handbook is also available for download on the same website. – The Vibes, February 16, 2021