BALING: The government is committed to offering continued care for people who have received the Covid-19 vaccine, including those administered with AstraZeneca, and who may have encountered side effects.
Health minister Datuk Seri Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad said the government has data on adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) caused by Covid-19 vaccines and has methods to treat them.
“AstraZeneca has recalled its vaccine, and this is global. What we want to ensure is that if anyone has evidence-based concerns related to the AstraZeneca vaccine, we have ways to ensure they get assistance.
“That is the assurance given by the government. We will be able to identify such cases, and we also have a registry, we have the data,” he told a press conference here today.
SPONSORED CONTENT Electrifying windows of opportunity in Sabah - The right policies, collaborations, and strategies can turn emerging opportunities into victories for all parties in Sabah. CHIEF Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor’s 2021 Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya Plan and the Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (SEDIA) have laid out a road map to an exciting future for all Sabahans, with a target of increasing Sabah’s income levels and GDP per capita from about RM 23,000 to about RM 40,000 by 2030. Read more Dzulkefly said the government will also be responsible for vaccine recipients from other pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer-BioNTech and Sinovac should they also encounter adverse reactions.
According to media reports, Anglo-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca has said that it had begun a worldwide withdrawal of its Covid-19 vaccine after admitting in court documents that the vaccine causes side effects such as blood clots and low blood platelet counts in “more than one in 10 people”.
Dzulkefly said the issue would not affect other vaccination programmes, including the national immunisation programme (NIP).
He said the NIP, a long-standing practice nationwide, has effectively bolstered childhood immunisation and prevented the spread of serious diseases.
“The Covid-19 vaccine is another matter altogether. We also have other vaccination programmes such as HPV to combat cervical cancer, and the NIP, which has proven invaluable to parents given the high cost associated with these vaccines.
“There is no dispute when it comes to this. The people are aware, have the knowledge and are informed. We will continue to educate the people,” he said.
* Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss.
* Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.