Khairy: Gov't mulling nationalising GLC facility to bottle Covid-19 vaccine

CORONAVIRUS | The government is looking to nationalise a local vaccine-bottling facility owned by a government-linked company (GLC) to prepare for an eventual Covid-19 vaccine.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin (above) said last night that this was among the ways to ensure Malaysia had access to the vaccine once it hits shelves.

“We don’t have the full spectrum of human-vaccine manufacturing capability in Malaysia, but we do have (the) capability for fill/finish, which is essentially where you bottle the vaccine into vials.

“We have been discussing with a private (company), well it’s a GLC, to see we can nationalise that facility so we can bottle the vaccines,” he said during a question-and-answer session after the online launch of the Global Covid-19 Index (GCI).

The minister did not name the GLC or vaccine-bottling company involved.

“What kind of facility we end up securing will depend on which vaccine crosses the line first,” he added.

No vaccine has been developed for the virus yet, but laboratories all over the world are racing to be the first to do so.

Vaccines typically take at least a decade to develop, but scientists are trying to develop one for Covid-19 by next year.

Khairy said that the government is also considering working with other countries in combining vaccine-manufacturing capabilities.

He added that Perikatan Nasional had set up a task force comprising his ministry, the Health Ministry and Wisma Putra to look into securing the Covid-19 vaccine.

The government had already reached out to countries like the US, UK and China - where vaccines are being developed - to inquire whether Malaysia could have access to the drugs when they are ready.

Asean should negotiate to produce vaccine

The minister further proposed that the Health Ministry develops a protocol to determine who will receive the vaccine first when it arrives at our shores.

“(Whether its) frontline workers or vulnerable groups, I think we have to be as equitable and transparent as possible when it comes to administering the vaccine to our population,” he said.

Dr Jemilah Mahmood (above), the special advisor to the government on public health, said during the session that Malaysia ought to negotiate for the rights to produce the vaccine domestically or regionally.

“We hope we will not have a vaccine that is controlled only by developed countries.

“(We hope) that countries like Malaysia, countries in this region will have access to not just the vaccine but also (to its) production, to drive the costs down so we will have equity in ensuring that every Malaysian has a right to that vaccination,” Jemilah said.

She proposed that Asean nations leverage on their large population sizes and negotiate for such rights as a bloc.

“As a regional grouping, we have to have a stronger negotiating power in terms of the vaccine,” she said. - Mkini