We need to review the Budget 2021 allocations, especially those related to Covid-19 vaccination activities. It involves more than just the cost of the vaccine, but also the supporting infrastructure.
The Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine is priced at US$19.50 per dose, which would amount to US$249.6 million (RM1 billion) for 12.8 million doses; it’s unclear how much the Malaysian government is paying for the vaccine.
Malaysia has signed a commitment agreement with the COVAX Facility, choosing the Optional Purchase arrangement that enables participants to decide which vaccines to buy.
Under the COVAX Facility’s Optional Purchase arrangement, Malaysia can decide which Covid-19 vaccines to buy, but risks a delay in getting doses under the initial phase if only one or two approved vaccines are available and quantities are limited.
The evaluation of new drug products granted Priority Review, which can be granted during a pandemic, will take 120 working days starting from the date of approval of Priority Review, according to the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA).