Sinovac will only be available through private market by August, says KJ

 

China's Sinovac vaccine will only be supplied through the private sector from August onwards after the government received its last order, according to National Immunisation Programme (NIP) Coordinating Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

Khairy today said there was no issue of the government "replacing" Sinovac with other vaccines, amid concerns over its efficacy against new and more contagious variants of the coronavirus.

"I would like to reiterate there are no outstanding issues in this matter because the 'replaced' vaccine is because we have received all of our Sinovac supplies.

"All of our orders have been delivered by Pharmaniaga," said Khairy, in reference to Malaysia's 12 million Sinovac doses procured through the NIP.

He said the government had also ordered an additional three million doses which would be delivered by end of this month, after which it would switch to primarily administering Pfizer vaccines.

"We will keep a stock of Sinovac as a buffer for those who suffered from allergies and are unable to receive Pfizer.

"From August onwards, Sinovac will be supplied through the private market," Khairy said at an online press conference with Health Minister Dr Adham Baba today.

Pharmaniaga LifeScience Sdn Bhd (PLS), a subsidiary company of Pharmaniaga Bhd (Pharmaniaga), earlier today said it expected to finish delivering all 12.4 million doses of the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine to the government by next week, instead of November as agreed under an original agreement.

Pharmaniaga managing director Zulkarnain Md Eusope said the company was also prepared to supply the vaccine to state governments and the private sector after completing its supply to the federal government.

He said PLS has to date received orders for five million doses from state governments and the private sector.

Aside from Sinovac, Malaysia's Drug Control Authority has approved the use of Sinopharm and Janssen Covid-19 vaccines, both expected to be available in the private market. - Mkini