By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, June 21: Malaysia is expected to roll out the single-dose CanSino vaccines by the end of next month (July).
National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (Pick) Coordinating Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said Malaysia has granted approval for the use of two new Covid-19 vaccines by China’s CanSino Biologics and the United States’ Johnson & Johnson (J&J).
“For CanSino vaccines, we will receive the shipment of the first batch in July. Currently, we are still finalising the delivery matters but I believe we would be able to begin distributing the vaccines to recipients by the end of next month,” he said in a virtual press conference with Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba today.
The government has previously announced that it had secured 3.5 million doses of CanSino vaccines.
On the Jannsen vaccines by J&J, Khairy said Malaysia has yet to receive any response from the global Covax facility on the delivery date of the vaccine to the country.
Khairy also stated that Malaysia has approved the use of the vaccine made by US and German drugmakers Pfizer-BioNTech for recipients, aged 12 and above, although priority would still be given to those in high-risk groups.
“The Special Committee on Ensuring Access to Covid-19 Supply (JKJAV) co-chaired by Datuk Seri Dr Adham and I, would deliberate on the methods of using Pfizer vaccine for adolescents within this week.
“We will also decide on when can the administration of the vaccine to the adolescents begin based on advice and recommendation made by the Committee’s expert group,” he added.
At the same time, he noted that the Duopharma Biotech Bhd’s subsidiary Duopharma (M) Sdn Bhd (DMSB) has concluded the execution of separate definitive supply agreements with the Health Ministry and a subsidiary of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) for the supply of 6.4 million doses of the Sputnik V vaccine.
“The registration of the vaccine with the Malaysia’s National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) will take about three months.
“I was made to understand that there are several stability details that the NPRA needed before making any decision. However, NPRA has also informed that the registration process can be speed up if the Sputnik vaccine has received emergency-use listing by the World Health Organisation (WHO),” he explained. — DayakDaily
