MOH wants AstraZeneca’s transparency on adverse reactions to vaccine

All is well: Dzulkefly (far left) observing activities during the health screening programme organised by the Hulu Selangor District’s Health Office in conjunction with the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election. — Bernama

HULU SELANGOR: Clarification will be sought from pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca on the adverse responses from its Covid-19 vaccine amid growing public concerns over the safety of the jab, says Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

He said the company should address the safety concerns by providing an explanation to Malaysia and the rest of the world, although the risk of side effects from the jab is relatively low at 0.88 out of a million vaccine doses administered.

“We ask AstraZeneca representatives to give a more thorough explanation ... I would prefer to be more transparent with people and the media,” he said when met at a health screening programme at Kampung Orang Asli Tun Abdul Razak in Kuala Kubu Baru here yesterday.

“They (AstraZeneca) must be responsible.

“There is nothing for us to hide. The same is true for them,” he said, Bernama reported.

The firm is facing lawsuits over claims that the vaccine could cause death or serious injury, with a total of 51 cases filed in the UK High Court and claims totalling almost £100mil (RM595mil).

Dzulkefly said his ministry will continue to monitor the developments and deal with the matter based on evidence of symptoms.

He stated that his ministry will treat affected individuals according to clinical guidelines.

On another note, he announced the posting of an emergency medicine specialist to Hospital Kuala Kubu Baru this month to alleviate the overcrowding at Hospital Selayang.

An internal medicine specialist was posted to the hospital earlier in January.

“Today, I discovered that the increase (in patients at Hospital KKB) is greater than the pre-Covid-19 pandemic period, indicating that people here have confidence in the hospital’s specialists.

“They don’t have to travel 45km back and forth to get treatment at Hospital Selayang.

“I will continue to make improvements to the KKB Hospital.

“I want to stress that this is not being done due to the by-election; it has been (long) planned,” he said.

Polling for the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election will take place on May 11. Early voting is scheduled to be held on May 7.