PETALING JAYA (Bernama): The first batch of one million doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine will be received and given out to target groups as early as February 2021, says Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
The Prime Minister will be among the first individuals to receive the Covid-19 vaccine in a bid to convince the people that the vaccine obtained by the country is safe and effective.
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He said it would be followed by the frontliners before being given to target groups, namely high-risk groups such as the elderly, those with non-communicable diseases and chronic respiratory diseases.
"The government will ensure Covid-19 vaccines procured are safe and effective," he said.
Muhyiddin said this in a short video on the latest development regarding the distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine to Malaysians.
He said the Special Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee Committee, which had been established and co-chaired by the Minister of Health and the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation would ensure that the supply of vaccines could be obtained immediately.
"We are also in final negotiations with Sinovac, CanSino and Gamaleya for Covid-19 vaccine supply," he said.
He said that the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) of the Ministry of Health will continue to monitor the effectiveness and safety of vaccines once they are obtained and used.
"Once again, I would like to invite all of you to appreciate and cultivate new norms in everyday life even after we receive vaccine supplies and being vaccinated.
"We need to adapt to the new norms because the virus is already in the community, ” he said.
Muhyiddin also reminded the people to adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOP) that have been set and practice frequent hand washing, wearing of face masks and maintaining physical distance.- Bernama
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