KUALA LUMPUR, July 23 — Sinovac’s Covid-19 vaccine will continue to be used in state-run and private inoculation programmes, Khairy Jamaluddin said today, since supply to the federal government has been fully delivered.
The vaccine minister clarified today that the supply of the Sinovac vaccine has not been discontinued in Malaysia, though orders made by the government have been fulfilled by Sinovac Biotech Ltd’s local distributor, Pharmaniaga Bhd.
“Sinovac has not been discontinued from the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK). The supply of Sinovac has been completely delivered to the federal government. That is why the total number of Sinovac vaccines that will be distributed in PICK will be lower,” Khairy told a media briefing.
“We have not pulled out Sinovac from the national programme. The impression that has been given is as though Sinovac is no longer favoured in PICK, no. Pharmaniaga has delivered all its contractual supply of vaccines to the federal government.
“In fact, we’ve added a few new orders from Pharmaniaga, and that’s why the announcement was made that Sinovac will slowly be phased out from PICK because they finished giving their supplies. So, this matter shouldn’t arise.”
On the private sale of Sinovac’s Covid-19 vaccine, Khairy said the central administration has agreed early on to open the market for vaccine sales so that the national target can be achieved quicker, once federal orders are fulfilled.
“That’s why in the month of August, there will be pharmaceutical companies who will have access to supplies of vaccine, who will be able to offer this in the private market.
“The JKJAV (Special Committee for Ensuring Access to COVID-19 Vaccine Supply) that is co-chaired by Health Minister Dr Adham Baba and myself will meet next week to decide on the guidelines of the private sale of vaccines, including a ceiling price so that these vaccines are not sold at too high a price in Malaysia,” Khairy said.
Separately, Khairy also clarified that the government does not issue physical copies of digital Covid-19 vaccination cards to those who have been inoculated.
“There is only the MySejahtera digital certificate that can be printed from the JKJAV website, that is all, as well as the vaccination card given at the vaccination centres (PPVs). Nothing else,” Khairy said.
