Undocumented migrants will not be detained when they come for Covid-19 vaccinations, says Khairy

PUTRAJAYA: Undocumented migrants in Malaysia have been given assurance that they will not be detained if they come for Covid-19 vaccinations.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) will work with the foreign ministry, as well as civil society to reach out to undocumented migrants.

“For undocumented migrants, the CITF will be coming up with a plan on how we hope to reach out to them.

“Foreign embassies, international organisations, civil society, NGOs can assist us on how to get undocumented foreigners to come out and get vaccinated, with the assurance that we are not detaining or apprehending them.

“I think that’s the most important message that we need to send out.

“This is so that they come forward freely and be confident that the government will vaccinate them and not detain them.

“That’s the implementation plan that is still being worked out by the foreign ministry, ” said Khairy at a press conference here.

For foreign workers who are documented, Khairy said the Home Ministry together with the Human Resources Ministry will be tasked to reach them.

“We will work with their employers, so they can furnish us with their employees’ details so that we can make appointments for the workers to receive their vaccinations efficiently and accountably, ” said Khairy.

On another matter, Khairy said the government intends to procure the Covid-19 vaccine developed by United States’ firm Johnson & Johnson.

He said the Cabinet has made the decision based on the recommendation of the Covid-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee Special Committee (JKJAV).

“The procurement of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was recommended by the JKJAV. Among the reasons is that it is a single dose vaccine and that the clinical information on it has appeared positive so far.

“This is still at a discussion stage. I am made to understand that Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba will be signing the contract with Johnson & Johnson soon.

“After that, the vaccine will be sent to the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) to be evaluated, ” said Khairy.

So far, Malaysia has agreed to get Covid-19 vaccines from five firms: Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Sinovac, CanSinoBIO, and Sputnik V.

Only Pfizer-BioNTech has been approved by the NPRA, while the rest are still being evaluated.