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SHAH ALAM – Pharmaniaga Bhd will sell 14 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine to interested states and private companies from this month to September, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
He said the direct sale of the vaccine to interested parties has received the approval of the Covid-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee Special Committee (JKJAV), and could further expedite efforts to achieve herd immunity earlier than scheduled.
“States are also interested in buying directly – for example, Selangor, which has long asked for vaccine to be sold directly to it – but the committee has its own programme schedule, and that is why we cannot give directly.”
Earlier, Ismail Sabri witnessed the handing over of the last batch of the Sinovac vaccine to Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba, who represented the government, from Pharmaniaga group managing director Datuk Zulkarnain Md Eusope.
Pharmaniaga has supplied 12 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine four and a half months ahead of the original contract schedule, and the government agreed to purchase another two million doses to cover Operation Surge Capacity on July 19, he added.
He said the list of states and companies that applied to purchase the vaccine will be referred to the committee for review.
“They can also make reservations directly with Pharmaniaga and will be referred to JKJAV as the names of the recipients may have been duplicated or already received the vaccine.”
On relaxed restrictions for those who have completed both Covid-19 vaccine doses, Ismail Sabri said the government is still studying the matter.
“Maybe one of the conditions is to allow factories to reopen when more than 80% of their employees have completed two doses, and when we can sell the vaccine directly to these factories.
“After that, I believe they (owners) can be allowed to apply for permission to reopen their factories.
“We believe that even though two doses have been given, the Health Ministry considers it still not completely safe. But at least two doses along with other conditions such as screening tests every two weeks and so on can help, but the matter is still being discussed.” – Bernama, July 21, 2021
