Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin today followed through with his promise to take the next Covid-19 vaccine to be approved after the more established Pfizer-BioNTech one, which is the US-German initiative.
That vaccine happens to be China's Sinovac. After receiving his first shot at Rembau Hospital today, Khairy released a video of himself speaking in Mandarin.
"Zhe shi an quan de (This is safe)," he declared.
Khairy also joked that his Mandarin had suddenly become good.
On a serious note, he assured that all vaccines approved in the country are safe.
Khairy had previously promised to take the next vaccine to be approved after Pfizer-BioNTech to help with public confidence.
While Pfizer BioNTech's efficacy is at around 95 percent, clinical trials have shown varying results for Sinovac, ranging from 50.4 percent in Brazil, 65 percent in Indonesia and 91.25 percent in Turkey.
Sinovac's vaccine is not the only one to show varying data. UK's AstraZeneca has also seen similar problems.
However, Pharmaniaga Group, which is bottling the Sinovac vaccine locally, assured that it will still help prevent people from developing more serious Covid-19 symptoms that will require hospitalisation.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was the first to be approved and administered.
Sinovac and AstraZeneca also received conditional approval last month.
Malaysia has yet to receive its order of AstraZeneca vaccine, which will be more closely watched amid concerns of unusual symptoms reported in Europe.
In contrast, the administering of the Pfizer-Biontech and Sinovac vaccines in other countries have generally gone smoothly.
Khairy, who is in charge of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, received his first dose of the Sinovac vaccine from Rembau Hospital matron Salha Abd Samad, according to Bernama.
He had to go through a five-step process, namely to check for symptoms and temperature, followed by registration, consultation and consent, receiving the jab and finally being put under observation.
Khairy's inoculation marks the second vaccine type to be used in the national immunisation programme against Covid-19, the largest of its kind in the country's history.
Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was the first to receive Pfizer-BioNTech's Comirnaty vaccine. He received his second dose yesterday, after a three-week gap.
Likewise, the Sinovac vaccine is also a two-dose regime. - Mkini
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