KJ: Pahang decided hotel sector vaccination before JKJAV changed Sinovac advisory
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the Special Committee on Covid-19 Vaccine Supply (JKJAV) had revised the eligible recipients of the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine to include those above 60 years old and with comorbidities on April 6.
This was after the Pahang government decided to use the Sinovac vaccine on workers from the hospitality industry, he said.
“The JKJAV in our meeting on April 6 revised the use of Sinovac vaccines from those below 60 years old to those above 60, including those with comorbidities.
“The decision by the Pahang government was done...
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the Special Committee on Covid-19 Vaccine Supply (JKJAV) had revised the eligible recipients of the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine to include those above 60 years old and with comorbidities on April 6.
This was after the Pahang government decided to use the Sinovac vaccine on workers from the hospitality industry, he said.
“The JKJAV in our meeting on April 6 revised the use of Sinovac vaccines from those below 60 years old to those above 60, including those with comorbidities.
“The decision by the Pahang government was done before JKJAV revised its advisory on the use of Sinovac for senior citizens. They made the decision when the JKJAV advisory was still for those under 60 only,” Khairy explained.
He was speaking at the weekly joint press conference with Health Minister Dr Adham Baba on the progress of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP), which was held in Putrajaya and broadcasted online.
Previously, the Pahang State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) said the vaccination of hospitality workers was done after considering a few factors, including an advisory from the National Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) which, at the time, said the Sinovac vaccine was not suitable to be given to those from the "comorbidity group".
Pahang state secretary Dr Sallehuddin Ishak also stressed that the initiative was only carried out after all frontliners from the health and vital services sectors had received their jabs under phase one of NIP.
Khairy explained that the JKJAV revised its advisory to include using Sinovac on senior citizens and those with comorbidities based on clinical data and real-world use of the vaccine.
“We stand by the decision of revising the Sinovac vaccine usage based on clinical data and real-world use of the vaccine in various countries.
“Based on the Brazil trials, the secondary efficacy for Sinovac was 83.7 percent for moderate cases and 100 percent for severe cases. Based on real-world data, it has shown to be effective,” he said.
On a separate topic, Khairy said his ministry is working closely with the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry in encouraging unlicensed elderly care homes to come forward to register those staying at the homes for vaccinations.
“We have given assurance that no action will be taken against them during the course of the NIP and we encourage them to register themselves with the relevant authorities,” he said.
A World Bank report previously found almost 80 percent of elderly care centres in Malaysia are unlicensed.
Report this comment
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
This action cannot be undone.