No restrictions for others to procure Covid-19 vaccines approved by the NPRA, says PM

 

Members of the public waiting for their turn to be inoculated at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur vaccination centre (PPV). -NSTP/MOHAMAD SHAHRIL BADRI SAALI

KUALA LUMPUR: The government will not impose any restrictions on any quarters who wish to procure the Covid-19 vaccines on their own.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, however, said quarters who wished to procure the Covid-19 vaccines on their own must obtain approval from the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA).

"For instance, say agencies such as Petronas and so on (want to purchase the vaccines), we cannot stop that. (However), the condition is that they are safe after being tested and they must be licensed.

"They cannot 'curi-curi' by smuggling it into the country," said Muhyiddin during the "Program Bicara Khas Cabaran Pandemik Covid-19 Eksklusif" special interview aired on RTM and Bernama TV this evening.

The government, he said, is sparing no effort to ensure sufficient supply of Covid-19 vaccines at hospitals nationwide as well as private health facilities in order to hasten the mass vaccination programme.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin gestures during the exclusive interview hosted by Wan Syahrina Wan Ab Rahman from Bernama TV with Terrence Dass (RTM). - BERNAMA pic

Muhyiddin also expressed his confidence that the country could achieve its target of establishing herd immunity before the end of this year based on supplies of Covid-19 vaccines that are expected to arrive in the country in stages.

"I was informed by the minister (in charge of the procurement of the Covid-19 vaccines) that supplies of the vaccines have started to arrive. Some of the vaccines arrived earlier than expected.

"Based on the updates given to me, I was told that the supplies of all the vaccines will arrive in the country before the end of this year," he said.

He added: "This means that we can achieve our target of establishing herd immunity or have 80 per cent of the country's population vaccinated before the end of the year."

To ensure smooth implementation of the vaccination process, Muhyiddin said there are more than 600 vaccination centres (PPV) that have been established across the country.

The PPVs, he said, included the mega PPV at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre, which could accommodate up to 8,000 people at any given time.

He said Malaysia strictly adheres to the guidelines issued by the vaccine manufacturers when administering the vaccines on the people.

This, he said, included the interval between the first and second dose of the Covid-19 vaccines.

"I was advised by the Health Ministry that we must follow the guidelines issued by the manufacturers of the vaccines.

"For instance, Pfizer has set a 21-day interval between the first and second shot of the Covid-19 vaccine produced by the company.

"They (Pfizer) have experts who had conducted research and they came to the conclusion on the interval period for the administering of the vaccine between its first and second dose, and we have no issues (with following such guidelines).

"To me, everyone has the right (to get vaccinated). If (the Covid-19 vaccine is by) Johnson & Johnson, the people are only required to get one shot.

"If the people are required to get two shots of the vaccine, we will follow and adhere with the guidelines (as prescribed by the vaccine companies)," he said.

It was reported that Singapore has implemented a strategy, which saw the republic extending the interval between the first and second dose of certain vaccines from three to four weeks to six to eight weeks.

The strategy, which was aimed at getting as many people protected from the virus by administering the first of two doses of the vaccine is also adopted in other countries such as the United Kingdom and Germany.

The prime minister reminded that the people need to comply with the standard operating procedures (SOP) that are in place to curb the spread of the virus although they have been vaccinated.

He issued the reminder as people are still exposed to the risk of the virus after getting their shot of the vaccine.

"Do not breach the SOP. Although I have completed both doses of the vaccine; and all of the Covid-19 screenings conducted were negative, nevertheless, I am not proud of it since the risk of getting infected is still out three.

"Malaysia is not safe until the entire world is safe from Covid-19," he said. - NST