KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia will receive one million of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine doses contributed by the United States tomorrow, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said.
He said the vaccines will help intensify Malaysia’s vaccination process and make meaningful progress to the ongoing roll-out of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme.
“On behalf of the government of Malaysia, I would like to, once again, express my sincere gratitude to my counterpart, (Secretary of State) Antony Blinken, and the government of the United States for the generous contribution of its Covid-19 vaccines,” he said in a statement today.
He said Malaysia is also highly appreciative of the invaluable support extended by the US through its embassy here since the start of the pandemic last year, including the in-kind contribution of medical supplies, personal protective equipment (PPE) and ICT equipment worth US$250,000 (RM1 million).
He also hoped that the close and friendly ties will be further strengthened for the mutual benefit of both countries.
Hishammuddin said in the common pursuit for equitable global access to Covid-19 vaccines, Malaysia stands ready to establish all-round cooperation with the US in vaccine research, development and distribution.
He noted that, in his letter to Blinken on June 4, he had reiterated that Malaysia welcomes President Joe Biden’s June 3 announcement of the US’ expression of support for the temporary waiver of intellectual property (IP) protection on Covid-19 vaccines.
He added that Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had also stated in his address at the Nikkei International Conference in May that Malaysia’s supports the IP protection waiver for Covid-19 vaccines. – Bernama, July 4, 2021
