Ministers: Covid-19 vaccine free to all, including non-citizens

 

COVID-19 | The cabinet has decided that the Covid-19 vaccine shall be made available to all those living in Malaysia, including non-citizens.

"The cabinet which met last night agreed that the Covid-19 National Immunisation Programme that will involve vaccination for civilians living in the country Malaysia will be free.

"This involves all groups including non-citizens who reside in Malaysia," said Health Minister Dr Adham Baba and Science, Technology, and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin in a joint statement today, made on behalf of the Special Committee on Covid-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee.

"This is in line with the theme of the programme which is namely 'Protect Yourself, Protect Everyone' and maintains the attitude that there is no salvation until all are well."

They said the decision was made to give free vaccines to non-citizens after taking into account that herd immunity can only be achieved when they are given the vaccine at the same time as the Malaysian population.

"In the pandemic period, vaccination is a humane step," they said.

The committee added that the decision to extend free vaccination to non-Malaysians residing in the country was also inspired by the move by other countries to include Malaysian nationals.

The ministers also noted that while the vaccine supply secured by the government is more than enough for Malaysians, priority will be given to Malaysian citizens when the mass vaccination programme begins.

Khairy on Twitter elaborated that the foreign nationals covered by the immunisation programme will include diplomats, expatriates, students, foreign spouses and children, foreign workers and UNHCR cardholders.

"In principle, the cabinet has also agreed to provide the vaccines free for undocumented foreigners.

"The committee will be discussing further on how this can be implemented. We will be reaching out to state governments, foreign embassies, NGOs to assist," he said.

The committee said a significant number of Covid-19 infections are from clusters involving migrant workers in the plantation, construction and manufacturing sectors, and that the government was bearing the huge cost of containing the pandemic among the migrant worker population including quarantine and treatment. - Mkini