Three-pronged approach to push EU digital passport for all AstraZeneca vaccines

 

Malaysia will use a three-pronged approach to push for the European Union’s (EU) Digital Covid Certificate to recognise the AstraZeneca vaccine, regardless of where it was manufactured, said the minister in charge of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP) Khairy Jamaluddin.

It had been previously reported that Malaysians who received the AstraZeneca vaccine may not be allowed to enter Europe, as the EU’s Digital Covid Certificate only recognises the AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured in the EU, the US, the UK, and China.

Malaysia’s supply of AstraZeneca vaccine is mainly produced by the AstraZeneca manufacturing sites in South Korea and Thailand. On July 1, Malaysia also received one million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from the Japanese government, which was manufactured in Japan.

Khairy said he will first seek clarification from the EU ambassador to Malaysia Michalis Rokas on the immigration policy regarding the AstraZeneca vaccine.

“We will also ask AstraZeneca themselves to inform the EU that the formulation used to manufacture the vaccines at all their sites are the same. All their sites follow good manufacturing practice.

“So, there is absolutely no reason for the EU to discriminate one AstraZeneca facility from the other.

“There is also Malaysia’s representation to the EU to expand recognition to all vaccines which have been listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO),” Khairy said at at a joint press conference with Health Minister Dr Adham Baba in Putrajaya today, broadcasted online.

It would be most fair for the EU to recognise all the vaccines already listed for emergency use by the WHO, Khairy added.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) had previously approved the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine known as Vaxzevria, but this approval does not cover the AstraZeneca doses produced in South Korea, Thailand, or Japan.

In a statement today, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng also said that the WHO should be the “final arbiter” of vaccine recognition and geopolitical interests should not be allowed to discriminate between vaccines or source of production.

“At a time when the world is grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic and the economic crisis, it is disconcerting that there are neighbouring countries that refuse to abide by WHO’s recognition of Sinovac from China or other vaccines just because they are produced in certain countries.

“To allow geopolitical interests to intrude on health is unfair and outrageous.

“Using vaccine recognition as a geopolitical weapon to discriminate between vaccines from specific countries will also affect the countries buying and using these vaccines,” said Lim, who is also the Bagan MP.

The WHO has never questioned the efficacy or safety of the Sinovac vaccine or the AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured outside of the EU, the US, the UK and China.

He said the EU’s policy will only create further confusion among the Malaysian public and it may also affect the NIP’s target of reaching 80 percent herd immunity.

As such, the government must aggressively pursue this matter with the EU as well as the countries concerned to reassure the public of the efficacy and safety of the vaccines, he said.

“DAP is willing to support the campaign validating vaccine recognition by WHO as the conclusive proof of vaccine efficacy, reliability and safety,” Lim said. - Mkini