PUTRAJAYA – Malaysia will start using the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine this Thursday, with National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme Coordinating Minister Khairy Jamaluddin as the first recipient of the China-produced vaccine.
In a press conference here today, Khairy said he will receive the Sinovac shot at Rembau Hospital in Negri Sembilan.
“We will start the vaccination exercise using the Sinovac vaccine at Rembau Hospital and I will be the first person to receive the vaccine,” said Khairy, who is also Rembau MP.
The Drug Control Authority (DCA) had on March 2 approved the conditional registration of three Covid-19 vaccines for use, namely, AstraZeneca Solution for Injection; CoronaVac Suspension for Injection-Sinovac; and, Comirnaty Concentrate for Dispersion for Injection.
On the procurement of the single-dose vaccine from US-based Johnson & Johnson (J&J), Khairy said the the Special Committee on Covid-19 Vaccine Supply has decided not to proceed with the procurement of the vaccine.
“On J&J, we decided not to go ahead for now because the delivery schedule is not to the satisfaction of the Malaysian government. They need to come back to us with an increased amount and a faster delivery schedule,” he said.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba, who was also present at the press conference, said that second doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be administered from Wednesday.
Malaysia started the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme on February 24 with Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin among the first individuals to receive the first of two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. – Bernama, March 15, 2021
