Covid-19 vaccine: Donated doses are not meant for sale, says deputy minister

KUALA LUMPUR: Almost three million Covid-19 vaccines doses received as gifts from donor countries are not meant for sale, says Datuk Ahmad Amzad Mohamed.

"Under the agreement with the donor nations, the vaccines are not for sale and are to be given free to the people," the Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister told the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Oct 6).

He said China donated 500,000 doses (Sinovac), Japan 988,400 doses (AstraZeneca), the United Kingdom 415,000 doses (AstraZeneca) and the United States 1,000,035 doses (Pfizer).

On a separate matter, Ahmad said that over 91.4% of adults in Melaka have received at least one vaccine dose as of Tuesday (Oct 5).

"Of this, 88.5% have completed their full doses which is higher than the national rate of 88.4%.

"So Melaka does not have one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country as claimed by some," he said.

He noted that mobile vaccine units had played a crucial role in providing access to vaccines for harder-to-reach communities.

He said the mobile units were operational in seven states, namely Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Selangor, Melaka, Negri Sembilan and Johor.

Ahmad Amzad said a total of 84,468 doses of vaccines were administered by these units.

He also said booster shots were needed owing to the waning effects of initial vaccination.

He said details on the dispensing of the booster shots are still being finalised.

Last week, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said booster shots are scheduled to begin, with the elderly in Sarawak set to receive them from this month.