Khairy Jamaluddin, the minister tasked with the country's largest immunisation exercise in history, today emphasised the importance of the programme to Malaysia's economic revival and refuted various conspiracy theories about the Covid-19 vaccines.
He stressed that the Covid-19 vaccines procured by Malaysia are safe and effective, pointing out that millions of people in other countries have started receiving them.
"There is no evidence that these vaccines are detrimental to our life or health.
"The vaccines will not alter the recipients' DNA. The vaccines do not contain microchips that will control our minds. The vaccines are not an agenda of the illuminati to create the New World Order.
"The vaccines are produced by scientists. We must be confident with science and not conspiracy theories circulated in our family or residential WhatsApp groups that cite fake sources. Science must prevail," he said in a statement.
Khairy noted that last year was a painful year where, as of December, some 773,000 people or 4.8 percent of the population were jobless as many businesses went under or scaled-down due to the pandemic.
The country's gross domestic product also contracted by 5.6 percent.
Khairy said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects that the country can see a recovery this year with an estimated growth of 5.5 percent.
However, he said one of the factors that will determine whether this recovery can be realised rests on the National Covid-19 Immunisation Plan.
"Through this immunisation programme, we can ensure that economic recovery can progress smoothly when more economic activities resume.
"For example, when the borders reopen, the worst-hit sector such as aviation and tourism will resume operations.
"So can factories which will be able to operate without the risk of being shut down due to infections among its workers.
"The uninterrupted economic chain will ensure a smooth economic cycle that will not only benefit the country but also the daily lives of its people," said the science, technology, and innovation minister.
Therefore, Khairy said, it was crucial that as many people as possible receive the vaccine which he stressed have been trialled and tested.
"When we believe in science, we will be confident in the Covid-19 vaccines. When we are confident, more people will get the jabs. When more people get the jabs, the infections will go down.
"The deaths and intensive care unit patients will also go down. Then there can be more economic and social activities without excessive restrictions.
"This is how the immunisation programme is closely correlated to the success of our economic recovery.
"Any disruption to the immunisation programme and the Covid-19 pandemic dragging on will thrust the country into economic uncertainty and force the movement control to be prolonged," he said.
He urged the public to support the national immunisation programme which will begin at the end of the month.
"Immediately register when it is time for us to receive the vaccine so that we can expeditiously achieve out herd immunity target and set us on the path of economic recovery," he said.
The first batch of the Covid-19 vaccines from Pfizer-Biontech is set to arrive at the end of this month, followed by China's Sinovac.
Malaysia also has vaccine orders for the UK's AstraZeneca, Russia's Sputnik V and China's CanSino.
Putrajaya is aiming to vaccinate at least 70 percent of the population to achieve herd immunity. - Mkini
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