Covid-19 Fund includes allocations for vaccine, says Khairy

KUALA LUMPUR: The RM3bil allocation for a Covid-19 vaccine will come from special expenditure under the Covid-19 Fund, says Khairy Jamaluddin.

"I have requested for the Finance Minister to prepare the RM3bil allocation, and he will answer the necessity for it to be consolidated under the Covid-19 Fund as special expenditure," the Science, Technology and Innovation Minister said when answering a question raised by Chan Foong Hin (PH-Kota Kinabalu) in Dewan Rakyat on Monday (Nov 16).

He said that the amount was an estimate cost for the vaccine under the global coronavirus vaccine access plan (Covax).

"The RM3bil is an estimate based on the price spectrum offered to nations and we are unable to provide an accurate cost at the moment," he said, adding the Finance Minister would explain further when replying on Budget 2021.

Last week, Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim questioned the government on where the RM3bil would come from, as he could not find records for the source of the money under the budget.

Earlier, Khairy informed lawmakers that as of Nov 13, the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed there were 11 companies at the third stage of vaccine trials.

"As of to date, the government is in direct contacts with eight vaccine producers and two through Covax," he said.

He said the government is at the final stages of negotiations with regard to obtaining vaccine for the country and will make an official announcement once deals are finalised.

He noted that he was unable to provide further details on the matter, as the government is bound by a non-disclosure agreement with the vaccine manufacturers.

Under the Covax agreement, he said that Malaysia will get access to vaccine to cover 10% of the population, with vaccine for another 60% coming from other sources.

"The total of 70% vaccine is in line with the National Vaccine Policy of developing herd immunity for the nation," he added.

Once obtained, he said priority for vaccination will be given to frontliners battling Covid-19, followed by those in the high risk categories and adult population.