COVAX’s all-inclusive price of US$10.55 per dose of Covid-19 vaccines is nearly seven times cheaper than China-owned Sinopharm’s experimental coronavirus vaccine at US$72.50 per dose.
Malaysia has not yet signed a legally binding commitment agreement or submitted a non-binding confirmation of intent to participate in the COVAX Covid-19 vaccine access plan, as of Sept 21.
Khairy Jamaluddin says MOH has also signed non-disclosure agreements with several international pharmaceutical companies that are currently testing Covid-19 candidate vaccines in Phase 3 clinical trials.
The decision to opt-out of COVAX undermines the careful and strong reputation for health care excellence that Malaysia has prided itself with. It has the potential to erode confidence in participating and investing in our economy.
Medical experts say that it will be difficult for the Malaysian government to make separate bilateral agreements as there are over 300 coronavirus vaccine candidates.