PUTRAJAYA – Malaysia finds the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine more attractive as recipients need to take only one dose, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba.
“The Johnson & Johnson vaccine uses a one-dose method and thus makes it very attractive to use,” he told reporters after receiving a donation of 2.7 million low dead-volume syringes worth RM891,000 from Etiqa Family Takaful Bhd (EFTB) at his ministry here today.
On Wednesday, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin had announced that the government will sign a Covid-19 vaccine procurement contract with Johnson & Johnson from the United States soon.
He said that the clinical information on this vaccine has been positive so far and the cabinet decided to purchase it based on the recommendation of the Covid-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee Special Committee (JKJAV).
Adham and Khairy are co-chairmen of JKJAV.
Commenting further on this vaccine, Adham said the government had not yet determined the number of doses to be obtained from Johnson & Johnson.
Meanwhile, he said all the syringes received today would be used in the first phase of the national Covid-19 immunisation programme which will start on February 26 involving about 500,000 frontline workers.
“This contribution can at least help the Malaysian government’s efforts in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic in the country as well as being a good example to corporate companies that can participate in helping the government,” he said.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Tuesday had announced that Malaysia would receive its first batch of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine this Sunday, while the rollout of the national Covid-19 immunisation programme would begin in phases from February 26.
Muhyiddin said that he would receive the shot on the first day of the programme implementation, together with frontliners.
The first phase of the programme, which is until April, will involve the frontliners, followed by the second phase, which is from April until August, for the high-risk groups.
The third phase involves adults aged 18 and above and will be from May this year till February next year.
EFTB chief executive officer Zafri Ab Halim said EFTB made the donation in view of the first phase being very important as it involved medical and non-medical frontliners.
“We hope very much that this contribution can help the country in fighting Covid-19 because it is a challenging time for all. This national Covid-19 immunisation programme gives hope to the rakyat that the war against the pandemic will end.
"The country is now at an important time in the fight against Covid-19 and we are ready to help, while we continue to play a role in breaking the chain of transmission of the virus," he said in a statement.
The low dead-volume syringe is designed to reduce wastage of vaccine in the syringe, and ensure the vaccine recipient receives the entire dose.
Zafri added that EFTB had also contributed to the purchase of ventilators for use by hospitals in fighting the pandemic, and provided preventive assistance to government hospitals by donating RM10 million for more than 68,000 units of Covid-19 test equipment. – Bernama, February 18, 2021
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