Khairy gives breakdown of Covid-19 vaccine programme's RM5b funding

 

National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme Coordinating Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has provided a breakdown of how the government plans to spend its RM5 billion allocation for the programme.

This came after various quarters questioned the need to dip into the National Trust Fund (Kwan) to fund the programme, as its budget grew from its original RM3 billion allocation.

According to Khairy (above), most of the money is being set aside to procure vaccines and handle its logistics. RM3.5 billion has been allocated for this purpose, although the projected spending is only RM3.16 billion.

“With the announcement by several vaccine makers that clinical trials on adolescents are ongoing, the government has made an early decision to increase vaccine stocks that would be given to this group once it is approved.

“The government has also decided to procure additional stocks in case booster shots are needed.

“Therefore, although the current procurement cost is estimated at RM3.16 billion, it depends on the need to increase supplies to vaccinate adolescents and additional stocks up to the RM3.5 billion ceiling set by the Finance Ministry,” he said in a statement today.

RM5 billion allocation for National Covid-19 Immunisation Program
Infogram

However, this amount is not final.

For example, Khairy noted that the government’s deal to procure vaccines from CanSino Biologics and the Gamaleya Institute had not gone ahead because these vaccines have yet to receive approval from the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA).

If the NPRA refuses to approve the vaccines or the process is taking too long, the government can back out of the agreements without financial implications.

Elaborating on the cost of vaccine procurement, Khairy said he previously announced on Dec 23 that Malaysia had secured enough vaccines for 82.8 percent of the population from various manufacturers at the cost of RM2.05 billion.

This was raised to 110 percent population coverage on Feb 16 for RM3.16 billion. The increase was to mitigate the risk of disruptions due to export bans, raw material supplies, manufacturing capacity, and regulatory approval.

Khairy said he is willing to share the additional agreements with the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) once it is allowed to reconvene.

PAC proceedings are currently on hold due to the state of emergency enacted since Jan 11.

Meanwhile, as for the remainder of the RM5 billion budget, Khairy said up to RM333 million would pay for rentals and utilities such as over 600 vaccine dispensation centres, particularly those at community halls, stadiums, and other public places.

Another RM260 million is allocated for hardware such as computers and public address systems, as well as consumables for medical purposes, including diluents for the vaccine.

Keeping the facilities clean and sanitised would cost up to RM100 million, including the provision of mobile toilets, while allowances for MyVac, Rela, and Civil Defence volunteers would amount up to RM200 million.

A total of RM70 million has been allocated for the programme's reporting dashboard, call centres to keep track of appointments and report on the progress of the programme, as well as a system to manage the programme’s volunteers.

Community outreach has been allocated RM55 million, while allowances for healthcare volunteers amount to RM147 million.

RM15 million has been allocated to enhance tracking of vaccine side effects, while RM210 million has been allocated to fund outsourcing some vaccination efforts to private healthcare practitioners.

RM110 million has been set aside for contingencies and unanticipated spending, which would be subject to approval by the Finance Ministry. - Mkini