The Special Committee on Covid-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee has approved giving the vaccine to athletes representing Malaysia in international-level competitions on the basis of national significance, said Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
“I want to inform that the committee has agreed to give the vaccine to individuals and teams representing Malaysia in international competitions. This is under the category of national significance,” Khairy said.
His clarification comes after news of national footballers getting vaccinated today under Phase 2 of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP) went viral on social media.
“Some ask are they (the footballers) senior citizens, or have comorbidities or are people with disabilities?
“No, but they have qualifiers for the World Cup. Ninety-nine percent unsure if we can qualify or not, but we have to give the vaccine to them because they are in the process of going to the United Arab Emirates for the World Cup qualifiers,” Khairy explained.
He was speaking at the weekly joint press conference in Putrajaya with Health Minister Dr Adham Baba on the progress of NIP, which was broadcast live and on video conference and social media.
Khairy pointed out that other countries have the same practice with their athletes, citing New Zealand as an example.
“In New Zealand, they also allowed their athletes competing in the Olympics to get the vaccine early on the basis of national significance.
“We are also practising the same in Malaysia. That is why recently there are pictures of our athletes (getting vaccinated) because they will not just compete in the Olympics, but some are still going through the qualifying process for the Olympics,” he explained.
He also said six Badminton Association of Malaysia players tested positive for Covid-19 recently after attending competitions abroad.
“So this means they (the athletes) are exposed (to Covid-19) while competing in international games. So we give them permission to get vaccinated,” he said. - Mkini
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