M’sia to receive 2.7m Covid-19 bivalent vaccines as replacement

Malaysia will receive 2.7 million doses of the new generation (bivalent) Covid-19 vaccines as a replacement for the almost expired stock that is being kept by the Health Ministry.

Deputy Health Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni said though Malaysia was able to replace the vaccines, according to the data obtained, only 2.5 percent of the population have taken the second booster shot.

Therefore, the ministry may need to destroy the expired vaccines, he added.

He said this when winding up the debate on the White Paper on Covid-19 Vaccine Procurement before it was approved by the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa had previously said that the Health Ministry is still negotiating with Pfizer Sdn Bhd regarding the Covid-19 bivalent vaccine.

Lukanisman said the additional purchase and receipt of vaccine donations from foreign countries contributed to the surplus of vaccine stocks and this was not according to the plan under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK).

He said as of June 1, there were 8.5 million vaccines of various brands that had expired at the Health Ministry’s facilities and vaccine storage warehouses.

"The disposal process and reporting on vaccine stocks are carried out in accordance with the Asset Management Procedures and Store Management Procedures in force.

“Monitoring of vaccine disposal is also carried out periodically," he said.

Over 80pct completed primary dose

Lukanisman also informed that a total of 27,550,124 (84.4 percent) of the population received the complete primary dose; 16,335,715 individuals (50 percent) of the population have received a booster dose.

As for the second booster shot, 823,495 individuals or 2.5 percent of the population have received them as of May 30.

Meanwhile, he said from Dec 2020 to April 30 2023, the government spent RM5.885 billion, of which, RM5.348 billion were through the Health Ministry, while another RM537.5 million were through the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry for the implementation of PICK including PICKids.

These were through the utilisation of the Covid-19 Fund (KWC) and the National Trust Fund (KWAN).

In addition, he said the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Division (NPRA) had received 26,717 reports of adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) from February 2021 until last April 30.

Out of that number, only 1,868 reports (seven percent) involved serious adverse effects.

On the Special Financial Assistance for Covid-19 Vaccine Side Effects, Lukanisman said 319 applications were received and 150 of them had been approved involving a total payment of RM2.5 million until May 31.

- Bernama

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