SANDAKAN – There is no reason for the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) to delay the approval of the Sinopharm Covid-19 shot, said Sabah DAP acting chairman Datuk Frankie Poon.
Poon in a statement said he is glad to learn that the Sabah government has taken the initiative to source the coronavirus vaccine after much delay.
“However, the Sinopharm vaccine still requires NPRA approval. Time is of the essence here.
“I don’t see why NPRA is delaying the approval when the vaccine has been approved by the World Health Organisation, like other vaccines available in Malaysia.”
He is referring to a memorandum of understanding signed between the Sabah government and Kanger International Bhd last Thursday to obtain the supply of Sinopharm vaccine for people in the state.
Currently, only three types of Covid-19 vaccines are used in Malaysia – Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca and Sinovac.
Poon said Sabah has a huge population – nearly 3.9 million – and targeting to inoculate 80% of that population will require 6.28 million Covid-19 vaccine doses.
“With this proposed new vaccine from China, it will only require 3.12 million doses, as only one dose is sufficient.
“In Sabah, 541,016 individuals (18.45%) are registered, but only 145,594 (4.46%) have completed the vaccination as of May 28.
“If we start in July and aim to inoculate 80% of the population (three million people) by December, then we need to vaccinate 574 persons per day at all 29 vaccination centres in Sabah.”
The Tg Papat assemblyman said the current vaccination rate is too slow, and suggested the government open vaccination via walk-in.
“In these trying times, the only way we can quickly curb the spread of the virus and return to our normal lives is through vaccination. The faster we reach the 80% target, the better for everyone.”
Earlier this month, National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme Coordinating Minister Khairy Jamaluddin had welcomed the submission of data and research of the Sinopharm vaccine to NPRA. – The Vibes, May 30, 2021
