KUALA LUMPUR, April 13 — The government projects sufficient Covid-19 vaccine supply for 80 per cent of the Malaysian population by this October, Vaccine Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said today.
Khairy tweeted that from June onwards, Malaysia’s coronavirus vaccine supply will be in excess of demand, as he expressed certainty that the national Covid-19 vaccination programme could be completed by December.
“Surely it will be completed before the end of the year,” Khairy said.
Malaysia projects to receive enough vaccine doses for nine million people by June, 13.5 million people by July, 18 million in August, 22.5 million in September, 25.5 million in October, 28.5 million in November, and over 30 million people by December.
This means that by October, Malaysia will receive enough vaccine supply for 80 per cent of the population, which is the target for herd immunity.
Currently, Covid-19 vaccine supply is still lower than demand because as of April 12, Malaysia only has about 1.2 million doses, while 8.6 million people have registered for the Covid-19 vaccine.
“Current deliveries still low. Largely due to the stark vaccine inequity of advanced countries condemned by WHO (World Health Organisation) and UN (United Nations),” Khairy said.
Khairy previously said that the government will review the policy on whether vaccination should be made mandatory in July when the supply of vaccines exceeds demand.
Yesterday, during the weekly press conference by the Covid-19 Immunization Task Force (CITF), Khairy said that although vaccine supply is short, it is still enough to start Phase Two of the inoculation drive that is targeted at the elderly and those with comorbidities.
Khairy said Malaysia has received 1.2 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines and is expected to receive an additional 712,530 doses on a weekly basis this month.
