Covid-19: Mixing vaccines is 'plan B', and only if proven safe and effective, says Khairy

KUALA LUMPUR: An expert working group on mixing the Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca vaccines will meet again this week to see if this can be feasibly implemented in case there is a disruption in vaccine supply.

National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme coordinating Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the next meeting between the group and the Special Committee for Ensuring Access to Covid-19 Vaccine Supply on Thursday (June 24) will also present fresh data from other countries.

"We had a meeting about two weeks ago and at that point the data was inconclusive," he said, adding that the method, also known as heterologous vaccination, would only be implemented if it is proven to be safe and effective.

He said countries such as Germany, Spain and South Korea have also conducted studies on this.

He said if the study shows good results, the method will be used as the government's back-up plan should vaccine supplies be interrupted.

He also said discussions were held recently to prevent any interruptions to the AstraZeneca vaccine supply so that recipients can get their second dose.

"I need a Plan B but so far, we are ok," he told pressmen after visiting the newly-opened mega vaccination centre at Bukit Jalil National Stadium on Monday (June 21).