KUALA LUMPUR – Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin is in talks with a vaccine maker to procure jabs for children aged 12 and below, amid the Covid-19 immunisation programme for adolescents.
Without unveiling the company’s name, Khairy said it is in the process of submitting clinical data for approval by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA).
“However, they said they needed some time. So, perhaps by next month, the data will be submitted for NPRA’s assessment to allow for the vaccine to be registered (for use on children).
“I’m confident that other companies are also doing the same, because I understand there are a number of other vaccine manufacturers currently conducting clinical trials on children,” he told a press conference today.
Currently, teenagers aged 12 to 17 are getting their shots ahead of the staggered school reopening next month.
The initiative to inoculate adolescents is consistent with the government’s aim of expanding its immunisation drive to as many people as possible, without focusing only on attaining the herd immunity target of a rigid 80% of the population vaccinated that was set previously.
“We want to protect all Malaysians. We don’t want a situation where adults and teenagers are protected, but there is a pandemic among children,” said Khairy.
The Rembau MP added that the Health Ministry aims to fully vaccinate all adults and teenagers by year-end, but made no mention of the target for children under 12.
On the issue surrounding the check-out feature on MySejahtera, he said the ministry is reviewing the matter and looking for the best solution, for the ease of all users.
At present, users are required to manually check-out from a location after leaving the premises, and many have forgotten to do so.
“I understand that many have commented on this feature. I myself have ‘slept’ in a supermarket overnight based on my check-in history, because I forgot to check-out,” said Khairy.
“We will look at how we can perfect this feature. We admit that it is very difficult now in terms of compliance, as many don’t usually check-out. We are working on a few solutions.
“Our intention is pure, that we want to get more precise information in terms of your location and time. However, there needs to be improvement to the implementation.”
He also said beginning next month, the ministry will cut the interval between the first and second doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from nine weeks to six. – The Vibes, September 24, 2021
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