Covid-19: Malaysia getting Pfizer's new bivalent vaccine in November, says KJ

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia will be getting Pfizer-BioNTech's new bivalent Covid-19 vaccine in November, says Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

However, he said that this was not an additional procurement.

ALSO READ: Covid-19: Bivalent vaccine effective against XBB, Omicron, says Khairy

"This is an existing procurement. We have changed our order from the old vaccine to the new vaccine, which will arrive in November," he said.

Earlier, Khairy said that the nation was experiencing a small wave of Covid-19 cases due to the Omicron XBB subvariant.

ALSO READ: Malaysia experiencing small Covid-19 wave due to XBB subvariant, says Health Ministry

He also recommended the use of face masks in crowded areas although it is not mandatory.

Khairy also encouraged front-line staff, including Election Commission (EC) employees who will be on duty during GE15, to get a second booster vaccine dose.

Meanwhile, in a separate event, Khairy presented Malaysia's contribution, in the form of medical aid worth RM288,610, to Sri Lanka, represented by Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Malaysia, Air Chief Marshal Sumangala Dias. – Bernama