KUALA LUMPUR – The states can make their own purchase of Covid-19 vaccine supply, as long as the vaccine gets the approval from the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA).
However, the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) is aware that the vaccines the states are trying to procure, for instance in Selangor, are from the same pharmaceutical companies bought under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK).
Based on the agreement between the Federal Government of Malaysia and the producers of the vaccines, the Federal Government must be given the priority to the vaccine stocks supply.
To ensure the execution of PICK, the Federal Government must be given the priority of access to the vaccines before any supplies can be channelled by the pharmaceutical companies to any other parties, including the state government, industry or private hospitals. This comes with the exception for suppliers not listed in PICK, said the Coordinating Minister of PICK, Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar.
According to him, the CITF once again, repeat its commitment of free and sufficient vaccine supplies to all eligible individuals in each state for the implementation of PICK.
“CITF also welcomes any efforts from anyone who wishes to help PICK by contributing vaccine doses supply to PICK or states, with the condition that the vaccine must get the approval of NPRA.
“At the moment, three vaccines have obtained the approval of NPRA and they are Pfizer, Sinovac and AstraZeneca,” he said in a statement.
Khairy said, CITF noted the intention of Sekhar Foundation to contribute Sinovac vaccine supplies to PICK.
However, after checking with Sinovac in China and Pharmaniaga, the license holder for Sinovac in Malaysia, there was no application to purchase or official document on the matter from Sekhar Foundation.
“CITF wishes to inform that they would not stop Sekhar Foundatino or anyone who wishes to carry out the noble cause. However, it must be followed by action through the proper channels,” he said. –MalaysiaGazette
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